In January, America’s deal partner Iran took two U.S. Navy boats into custody and arrested 10 Americans alleged to have entered Iranian waters illegally. After photos of the captured American sailors on their knees at gunpoint made the rounds, the sailors were released.
On Tuesday, Iran again flexed its muscle in the Strait of Hormuz, where four high-speed patrol boats “harassed” the USS Nitze, coming within 300 yards of the warship and “conducting a high speed intercept … despite repeated warnings,” according to a U.S. official.
Iran vessels in 'high speed intercept' of U.S. ship: defense official https://t.co/zp4ssazJSA
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) August 24, 2016
Defense official: destroyer USS Nitze harassed by 4 Iranian small craft near Strait of Hormuz y'day in "unsafe & unprofessional" encounter.
— luis martinez (@LMartinezABC) August 24, 2016
4 Iranian IRGC vessels harassed USS Nitze in the Strait of Hormuz on Aug 23. Came within 300 yards. US Navy destroyer launched flares, ofcls
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) August 24, 2016
A defense official said the Nitze attempted to communicate with the Iranian vessels 12 times, sounded its whistle, and fired 10 flares, eventually changing course.
A recording captured a crew member radioing in: “We have visual contact with four Iranian… WPBs… Bridge to bridge COMMS were conducted but no response. Weapons uncovered… appears to be unsafe, unprofessional.”
NBC News has close-up video of the incident.
WATCH: US official: Multiple Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats harassed USS Nitze in Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. https://t.co/MrHsFbPf0v
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) August 24, 2016
seem like nice enough peeps…lets give them a bunch of money and ask them to be our friends
— Raub (@Raub_75) August 24, 2016
Related:
President seeks 'good neighborliness' with Iran as Iran's navy fires warning shots at tanker in Gulf http://t.co/iIRAv9nvat
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 15, 2015
Chinese honor visiting Secretary of State John Kerry by buzzing another US spy plane https://t.co/8PgVxjiWBf
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 8, 2016
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