Intercepted By Three Iranian Military Ships, US Patrol Boat Fires Warning Shots

JAKARTA - A USS Firebolt Class Cyclone Class US Navy patrol boat fired warning shots after three ships from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGCN) approached it and other US patrol boats in the Gulf Sea, the US military said, Tuesday, April 17.

Officials said it was too early to see the exact motivation of the Iranian forces. They said that generally in the past such incidents were carried out by local commanders rather than directed by senior Iranian leaders.

"United States crew issued multiple warnings via radio communication and loudspeaker devices, but the IRGCN vessels continued their close maneuvers", said the military in a statement, as reported by Reuters.

"The crew of the USS Firebolt then fired warning shots, and the IRGCN ship moved to a safe distance from the US ship", the statement added.

The Iranian coastal fast attack vessel closest to the American vessel was 68 yards (204 ft) away during the incident, which took place on Monday in international waters in the northern Gulf.

The incident comes as world powers and Iran seek to accelerate efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. And the United States has reassured its Gulf Arab allies of the status of the talks.

Meanwhile, the Head of US Forces in the Middle East said the United States military was careful not to let the incident with the IRGCN turn into a cycle of provocation, although he did not specifically talk about Monday's interactions.

"The activity that we normally see from the IRGC Navy is not necessarily activity directed by the Supreme Leader or from the Iranian state, irresponsible actions by local commanders at the scene", said Marine General Kenneth McKenzie Head of US Central Command.