Iran Fired Rockets Near Our Warships

News, citing unnamed United States military officials, said the Guards were conducting a live-fire exercise and the USA aircraft-carrier Harry S. Truman came within about 1,500 yards (meters) of a rocket as it entered the Gulf with other warships.

Some lawmakers also are pushing for Congress to renew an expiring Iran sanctions law, as leverage in case the US needs to snap back sanctions should Iran violate the deal. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf. On April 18, 1988, the USA attacked two Iranian oil rigs and sunk or damaged six of its vessels, including two naval frigates, in Operation Praying Mantis.

“While most interactions between Iranian forces and the US Navy are professional, safe, and routine, this event was not and runs contrary to efforts to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime safety in the global commons”, Raines said.

On Wednesday, senior United States military officials accused Iran of “highly provocative” behaviour, but the Iranian Revolutionary Guards suggest this claim is false.

The Iranian missiles were fired just after Truman and her escort ships exited the Strait of Hormuz, according to a defense official.

“Only 23 seconds warning was given before the weapons were fired”, said U.S. Navy Cmdr. “It is also notable that the Iranian craft or small boats encroached on the internationally recognized maritime traffic lanes and Omani territorial waters”, Hawkins explained.

“Iran’s missile program has nothing to do with the recent agreement over Iran’s nuclear program, and nothing can prevent Iran from its legitimate and legal right to strengthen its defensive foundations and national security”, he said.

U.S. Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it was considering sanctions against a number of Iranian and worldwide individuals and agencies for their alleged involvement in developing Iran’s ballistic missile program. Iran has always denied seeking nuclear arms. It conducts anti-piracy patrols in the greater Gulf and serves as a regional counterbalance to Iran.

Following the Fox News report of the second ballistic missile launch, U.S. Sen.

“The Guard’s Navy had no drills in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz and didn’t fire missiles or rockets during the past week and the time claimed by the Americans”, Sharif said in comments posted on the Guard’s website. It seized a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship and later released it in May after earlier surrounding U.S.-flagged cargo ship transiting the strait.