A US Coast Guard ship fired warning shots at Iranian fast boats that approached American naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon has confirmed.
Thirteen vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy came within 140 metres of US ships on Monday, prompting 30 warning shots, after which the Iranian boats departed. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby described the Iranian actions as 'unsafe and unprofessional', warning they could lead to miscalculation.
The incident is the second such confrontation in the strategically vital waterway in two weeks, amid rising tensions between Iran and Western countries. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel in the Gulf, is one of the world's most important shipping routes.
The encounter comes at a sensitive time in diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, from which the US withdrew under President Donald Trump. Iran has since increased its production of nuclear materials and has indicated it would rejoin the agreement if President Joe Biden removes economic sanctions.
