A U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots Monday at three Iranian fast inshore assault boats that were too close to U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf, officials said, according to the New York Post.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Navy said the three armed speedboats, operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy, were moving within 68 yards of the USS Thunderbolt and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Baranov.
The U.S. and Iranian ships came into tense contact in the Persian Gulf.
Initially, the U.S. crew sent multiple radio and loudspeaker device warnings to the Iranian vessels, but they maneuvered in close quarters, the Navy said.
“The crew of the Thunderbolt (Firebolt) then fired warning shots, and the (Revolutionary Guard) vessel pulled away to maintain a safe distance from the U.S. vessel,” the U.S. Fifth Fleet said in a statement. “
This marks the second time this month that a U.S. ship has had to issue a warning to Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf.
Four Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels in the Persian Gulf approach two U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats on April 2.
Video: Iranian vessels close in on U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats on April 2
One of the Iranian vessels, a large catamaran, Harth 55, cuts sharply in front of a U.S. vessel and then swerves to avoid a collision.
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