The Iranian press sent out a release early Sunday morning local time confirming the confrontation between a rocket-bearing Iranian military naval vessel and an American warship in the Straight of Hormuz, the short turn between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to which Iran claims to have sovereignty.
According to the report which did not offer many details, the American battleship was too close to a damaged Iranian fishing boat, and the Iranian navy warned it not to come any nearer.
The American navy obliged with the demand and turned away subsequently, whilst the Iranian navy towed the fishing boat back to the harbour.
In recent months, tensions have clearly been on the rise between the Iranian and U.S. military in the Straight of Hormuz. Ever since the US accused Qatar of harbouring terrorists and being an ally to Iran, the Persian waters have been patrolled more than usual by the US navy.
Furthermore, international observers claim that the administration of President Trump will turn its attention fully to Iran as soon as the North Korean issue is dealt with.
There has been a spat of similar incidents in the past month already. Back in early August, an Iranian drone came within 100 feet of a U.S. Navy warplane which was about to land on an aircraft carrier in the Gulf.
In July, the first warning shots were fired between both the Iran and US navy in an incident which heightened tensions. A US navy ship was allowed to fire a dud according to international navy rules as an Iranian vessel came within 150 yards of it.
During his successful presidential campaign last year, President Trump has repeatedly stated that any Iranian vessels that harass the U.S. Navy would be “shot out of the water.”
In comparison to the White House of President Obama, the Trump administration has clearly hardened its line on Iran.
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