U.S. Coast Guard ships fired 30 warning shots after 13 ships from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps approached u.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Department of Defense said Monday.
U.S. Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said 13 speedboats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps approached six U.S. warships, including the Monterrey missile cruiser, and that U.S. Coast Guard vessels fired 30 warning shots as the two vessels were 450 feet (137 meters) away, Reuters reported.
“It’s important that the Iranians act very aggressively,” Kirby said. He added that the number of Iranian ships has recently increased.
In April, three ships of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps approached a U.S. patrol boat and the U.S. fired warning shots, the Guardian reported. On the actions of Iranian ships, Mr Kirby said: “It is not safe and unprofessional, such actions can result in injuries and may lead to miscalculation of the situation in the region, which is not in the interest of either party.” ”
The U.S. and Iran are in indirect talks to resume compliance with the Iran nuclear deal, but the two sides are deeply divided. U.S. Secretary of State John Blinker said last week that the U.S. does not know whether Iran is ready to resume full compliance. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Araghi, said there was still a long way to go.
