Iranian Vessel Sails Close to US Navy Ship in Gulf
Local Editor
A US Navy coastal patrol ship changed course after a fast-attack craft from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps came within 100 yards [91 meters] of it in the central Gulf on Sunday, US Military Department officials said on Tuesday.
It was at least the fourth such incident in less than a month.
Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said the Iranian vessel sailed directly in front of the USS Firebolt, forcing the 174-foot [53-metre] US.ship to change course.
The incident began when seven Iranian ships "harassed" the Firebolt, Davis said.
A US military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, claimed that the interaction was "unsafe and unprofessional due to lack of communications and the close-range harassing maneuvering.
He further added that the uncovered and manned weapons were seen on the Iranian vessel.
According to the US military, the US ship tried to communicate with the Iranian ship by radio three times but received no response.
The US official said there have been 31 similar interactions with Iranian ships this year, almost double the amount from the same period last year.
"We don't see this type of unsafe and unprofessional activity from any other nation," the defense official added.
In late August, a US Navy patrol craft fired warning shots toward an Iranian fast-attack vessel that approached two US ships.
At the time, Iran's defense minister said Iranian vessels were just doing their job.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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