Iranian rocket tests raise USA ire

Since the nuclear deal was agreed between United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany and Iran, the Islamic Republic has carried out missile tests criticized by the US, and aired footage on state television of an underground missile base.

Stephens said that Iranian forces suddenly announced a “live-fire exercise” Saturday before firing the rockets 23 minutes later, from within internationally recognized maritime traffic lanes and within the territorial waters of Oman, he said.

Under the current circumstances, such false news are spread merely as part of a “psychological war”, General Sharif said.

Iran denied on Thursday that its Revolutionary Guards launched rockets near the United States aircraft-carrier Harry S. Truman and other warships as they were entering the Gulf on Saturday.

Cmdr. Kyle Raines, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said in a statement on Wednesday that Iranian IRGC naval vessels fired “several unguided rockets” about 1,370 meters from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, the USS Bulkeley destroyer and a French frigate, the FS Provence.

The Straits of Hormuz waterway – which sees almost one-third of all oil traded by sea pass through it – has been the scene of past confrontations between the USA and Iran, including a one-day naval battle in 1988. “While most interactions between Iranian forces and the U.S. 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”.

Though the rockets were not fired toward any warship their proximity to the foreign vessels – and several commercial ships – was “highly provocative”, said the official, who was not authorised to be named.

Back in May, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underlined that security of the Persian Gulf region comes within the purview of the regional countries alone, and dismissed the USA claim of seeking security in the region.

The military action, which occurred Saturday, was first reported by NBC News Tuesday. That caused the 5th Fleet to escort commercial ships traveling in the Gulf for a short time. Iranian officials could not be immediately reached.

Under the deal, Iran will also receive natural uranium from Russian Federation and Kazakhstan to be used in nuclear reactors for future energy production. Iran sank a replica of a USA aircraft carrier in February near the strait and it earlier tested out so-called “suicide drones” it said could crash into naval vessels.

Some U.S. critics of the deal have said the Iran cannot be trusted to comply – however proponents of the deal say Iran’s actions can be verified and that progress seems to be on track.