U.S. Navy ship fires warning shots at Iranian vessel

Share:

A U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots toward an Iranian fast-attack craft that approached two U.S. ships, a Pentagon spokesman said on Thursday, in the most serious of a number of incidents in the Gulf area this week.

 

The U.S. Navy patrol craft USS Squall (PC 7) steams in the Arabian Gulf in this U.S. Navy picture taken January 14, 2015. U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony R. Martinez/Handout via Reuters

“They did feel compelled ultimately to fire three warning shots and the reason for that is… they had taken steps already to try and de-escalate this situation,” spokesman Peter Cook told reporters.

Tensions have increased in the Gulf in recent days despite an improvement in relations between Iran and the United States.

Years of mutual animosity eased when Washington lifted sanctions on Tehran in January after a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions but serious differences still remain over Iran’s ballistic missile program, Syria and Iraq.

A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the USS Squall patrol craft fired three warning shots from a .50 caliber gun in the northern Gulf on Wednesday after warning flares did not work.

The incident started with three Iranian vessels, but there was only one around by the time the warning shots were fired, the official said. He described the Iranian behavior as “unsafe, unprofessional, and not routine.”

At one point, the Iranian vessel came within 200 yards (193 meters) of a U.S. ship, the official said.

Another interaction took place between an Iranian and U.S. ship on Wednesday, the defense official said but gave few more details.

The Pentagon earlier this week accused Iranian vessels of harassing a U.S. warship near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Iran’s defense minister said those Iranian vessels were just doing their job.

“If an American ship enters Iran’s maritime region, it will definitely get a warning. We will monitor them and, if they violate our waters, we will confront them,” Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said in a statement reported by the Iranian Students’ News Agency.

A State Department spokeswoman said it was not clear what the intentions of the Iranian ships were, but the behavior was unacceptable.

“We believe that these type of actions are of concern, they unnecessarily escalate tensions,” State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told a briefing.

 

REUTERS

Share:

Comments

14 responses to “U.S. Navy ship fires warning shots at Iranian vessel”

  1. It was time to point out to the Iranian that such behavior as unsafe, unprofessional, and not routine will not be accepted anymore.

      1. Rudy1947 Avatar

        The Persian Gulf has international waters. Anyone can sail there. If Iranian put puts wish to engage, then the US Navy will provide retaliation. Iran’s choice.

      2. Would you not agree that the Iranians act unprofessional?
        Are they taunting? They certainly know exactly how far they can push it. The US has not been very aggressive with Iran, playing the game, but see what happens if they make the mistake and fire on the US destroyer. Little speed boats will go to the bottom.
        Iran is seriously not in the same league.
        Or maybe Iran thinks Russia will have their back if they pick a fight with the US? I wouldn’t bet on that.

        1. Hind Abyad Avatar
          Hind Abyad

          Yes..of course, only US agression over the Middle East should be accepted.

          1. “The Retard and the Jooz”, Season 35, Episode 1,587.

          2. She really only plays one tune no matter what the topic is. Oh and its all your fault no matter what happens. Pesky juice. It must be flattering how anyone feels that such a tiny country with such a small population has gotten the best out of Iran that they will not fight you head on if that actually had a real reason to. Just pure hate for no good reason.
            Oh and I found Hind’s hero and roll model. I think they are the same person. I can’t reply to her because it is like talking to mentally ill people.
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m8eoaueI5k

          3. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            You’re here for Propaganda, Ratscal little rat

            “Panorama – “Saving Syria’s Children” – 30 September 2013
            In a report headlined BBC Crew returns to Aleppo on 30 September 2013[10] rehashed footage from the original program was aired again. The BBC explains “In a special edition, Panorama travels with British doctors inside Syria to exclusively reveal the devastating impact of the war on children caught in the conflict.”[11] It is a heart-rending report of the suffering of the Syrian people, made so as to demonise of the Syrian government.
            Video Fakery
            https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Dr_Rola

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p54hHhlLjRk

          4. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Stuff is leaking all over the place.

          5. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            Are you a psychopath..

          6. Rudy1947 Avatar

            Writing a biography Hind?

        2. Hind Abyad Avatar
          Hind Abyad

          I don’t care about macho incidents, i care about desperate lying warmongers and your likes do here.

          BBC Media Fabrications on Alleged Incendiary Bomb Attack in Aleppo, Syria
          http://www.globalresearch.ca/bbc-media-fabrications-on-alleged-incendiary-bomb-attack-in-aleppo-syria/5353099

    1. Time to sink the odd speed boat that comes too close. They will get the message then to stay back and maybe act a little more professional.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *