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Navy officials said on Tuesday that three Iranian high-speed attack naval vessels had harassed two US naval vessels entering the Persian Gulf.
The Navy said in a statement that a cyclone-class patrol coastal ship USS Sirocco and a Spearhead-class USNS Chokto County ship were approaching the Strait of Hormuz with three Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGCN) naval ships.
“One of the IRGCN vessels approached Sirocco head-on at dangerously high speeds and diverts after a US patrol coastal vessel issued a warning signal to avoid a collision. Arriving within 50 yards of a U.S. Navy vessel during the interaction, Sirocco responded by deploying a warning flare. Confirmed..
The Navy described the Iranian ship’s approach as “unsafe” and “unprofessional” in a statement.
“The complete interaction between all vessels lasted for an hour and ended when the IRGCN vessel departed the area. According to the Navy, the US Navy vessel continued to pass without further incident. “IRGCN’s actions do not meet international standards for professional or safe maritime behavior, increasing the risk of miscalculations and conflicts.”
Colonel Joseph Buccino, a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, said in a statement, “The U.S. Central Command will continue to fly, sail and operate within the responsibilities recognized by international law while promoting regional stability. “.
The Iranian Navy often targets and harasses US vessels heading to the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. This is a strategically important route that Iran has long sought to rule. A significant portion of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil pass through the straits located between Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
Last November, an Iranian helicopter arrived within 25 yards of a USS Essex amphibious warship, urging another response from the Pentagon. Two US guided missile destroyers and one US Coast Guard ship I saw him sailing near a tanker It was captured by Iran in October 2021.
And in 2020, the United States accused 11 Iranian ships of “unprofessional” and “unsafe” maneuvers when navigating US warships.
Tensions are rising in the region, with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami warning other local governments not to play a role in the Persian Gulf.
“We clearly declare and warn that the continuation of such a relationship is totally unacceptable,” Salami said at the time, referring to the presence of the Israeli Navy in the region. “They should know that the presence of evil Zionist governments everywhere is the cause of anxiety.”
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Jack Phillips is the latest news reporter for The Epoch Times, based in New York.
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