US accuses Iran of conducting missile test near warships

NBC News first reported news of the rocket tests, citing two military officials. U.S. Central Command spokesman Cmdr.

It is unclear how many rockets were fired, the official said; however, they were fired in a direction away from the passing commercial and coalition ships.

The officials, who spoke to Western media under condition of anonymity, called the Iran’s actions “highly provocative”.

In the time since, Iran has conducted missile tests criticized by the USA, as well as aired footage on state television of an underground missile base.

Ironically, the stunt occurred even though the Truman is now furthering Iran’s own goals by combating ISIS, which Iran opposes just as much as the U.S.

Gen. Ramezan Sharif, a Revolutionary Guard spokesman, said his forces didn’t carry out any drills in the key Persian Gulf waterway. The strike group includes guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio and guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley, USS Gravely and USS Gonzalez.

As our new bestest friends, Iran has a odd way of showing their reliability and good intentions.

Navy Seahawk helicopters from the Harry S. Truman kept a close eye on the Iranian vessels during the event, he said.

“The [Iranian Navy’s] actions were highly provocative”.

The U.S. and French vessels were in the region to support the military coalition fighting against the Islamic State (IS), according to U.S. officials.

Ties between the countries have warmed in recent months with the signing of a deal over Iran’s nuclear programme. Indeed, an Iranian sea mine-an antique World War I design, no less-nearly sank the frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) on April 14, 1988.

Nothing grabs the attention of the American military like a member of the “axis of evil” firing rockets close to a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, the biggest stick in the Pentagon’s massive arsenal. Taraghi has long expressed the view that the nuclear deal did not signal a transformation of the long-strained relations between the United States and Iran.

Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship and later released it in May after its forces had earlier surrounded a U.S.-flagged cargo ship transiting the strait.

Provocations like this will further concerns some members of Congress have about the landmark deal on Iran’s nuclear program, especially the sanction relief part of the agreement.