A U.S. Navy video obtained by USNI News shows the moment four Iranian Revolutionary Guard patrol boats approached the guided-missile destroyer USS Nitz earlier this week in international waters in the Strait of Hormuz. The video was filmed August 23.
A U.S. Navy official called the maneuvers of the boats “unsafe and unprofessional.”
“The Iranian high rate of closure…created a dangerous, harassing situation that could have led to further escalation including additional defensive measures by Nitze,” the official said, according to Reuters.
The White House said Thursday that the intentions of Iranian boats are unclear, saying “the behavior is not acceptable, given that this U.S. ship was in international waters.”
During the encounter the boats came within 300 yards of the destroyer.
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Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority said it would take “legal action” against tankers belonging to Sinokor, the world’s biggest oil tanker owner that has carried millions of barrels out of the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks.
Iranian attacks in the Persian Gulf are striking more ships and causing more severe damage than earlier in the conflict, bringing fresh risks to energy flows from the region.
Iran has managed to export some liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuel since July, despite a US naval blockade, shipping intelligence showed and people involved in security said.
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