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Iranian forces reportedly intercepted a US destroyer in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, instructing it to steer clear of waters claimed by Tehran, according to Iranian state television.
The encounter is the latest in a series of confrontations between the longstanding rivals and comes just weeks after the United States carried out strikes on Iran on 22 June, targeting key nuclear facilities during a brief 12-day conflict involving Israel.
State media reported that an Iranian military helicopter flew over the USS Fitzgerald around 10:00 am local time, claiming the American warship had tried to enter waters “under Iran’s supervision”.
According to the broadcaster, the US destroyer responded with its own warnings, but the Iranian pilot reiterated Tehran’s demand for the ship to change course. The report claimed the US vessel ultimately complied and altered its route to avoid further escalation.
There has been no official response from the US Navy regarding the incident.
Footage released by Iranian state television appeared to show a warship, viewed from a helicopter, while a voice over a radio warned the vessel to “change course” and avoid entering Iranian territorial waters.
Tensions between US and Iranian forces in maritime areas near Iran’s southern coast are not new. Last year, Iran claimed it had forced a US submarine to surface while traversing the Strait of Hormuz, a key strategic waterway. The US dismissed that allegation at the time.
