Iranian state outlet Mehr News Agency, citing another state outlet, Tasnim, reported that seven US Navy personnel died in a knife-and-blade brawl aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln after a CENTCOM adviser visited the carrier to address crew complaints about a prolonged deployment. US Central Command spokesperson Emma Thompson called the reports false, saying Iran 'continues to spread lies and false information.'
Searches turned up no original Tasnim story matching the claim, and no independent, non-Iranian outlet has corroborated the account. There is separately verified reporting of low morale and thwarted suicide attempts aboard the ship, but nothing tying those reports to a mass casualty brawl.
The fact-checking outlet declined to formally rate the claim, citing a lack of verifiable detail such as dates, while noting that hiding seven deaths would be difficult given crew communication with families and heightened media attention.
The full dispatch is available from the source below.