SinoChallenger
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If the US is reckless enough to drive a carrier into the straits, Iran can only reasonably interpret this as an act of aggression, because half of the Strait of Hormuz is Iran's territorial waters.The Pentagon has suggested that, sooner a carrier will pass through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf.
"We routinely operate our ships - all of our ships, all of our types of ships - inside the Arabian Gulf and that will continue," Kirby said.
Iran will wait until the US carrier is in the narrow straits. Then Iran will encircle the carrier with small attack boats to prevent it from going through. If the US keeps acting aggressive, then the boats will detonate against the ship, damaging it. If the US attacks targets on Iran's shore, then Iran will launch its coastal anti-ship missiles against the carrier.
In short, if the USA is reckless and aggressive enough to the Iranians, at least one carrier will be sacrificed. Without using nuclear weapons, USA simply doesn't have the ability to destroy the Iranian state through air power. A ground campaign is impossible also, because USA cannot attack Iran through Afghanistan, Iraq or Pakistan territory.
An intense exchange of fire and casualties initially followed by a long stalemate and attrition war is the most likely outcome.