US Navy fires warning shots in new tense tiff with Iran

Photo released by the US Navy shows an Iranian vessel cut in front of the U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC Monomoy in the Persian Gulf. Pic/AP

An American warship fired warning shots when vessels of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard came too close to a patrol boat in the Persian Gulf, the US Navy said Wednesday.

The Navy released black-and-white footage of the encounter Monday night in international waters of the northern reaches of the Persian Gulf. In it, lights can be seen in the distance and what appears to be a single gunshot can be heard, with a tracer round racing across the top of the water.

Iran did not immediately acknowledge the incident.

The Navy said the USS Firebolt fired the warning shots after three fast-attack Guard vessels came within 68 yards (62 meters) of it and the U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat USCGC Baranoff.

"The US crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio and loud-hailer devices, but the (Guard) vessels continued their close range maneuvers," said Cmdr Rebecca Rebarich, a spokeswoman for the Mideast-based 5th Fleet.

"The crew of Firebolt fired warning shots, and the (Guard) vessels moved away to a safe distance from the U.S. vessels." She called on the Guard to "operate with due regard for the safety of all vessels as required by international law".

The incident marked the second time the Navy accused the Guard of operating in an "unsafe and unprofessional" manner this month after tense encounters between the forces in recent years. Agencies

April 26
When the incident took place

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