Iran claims to have established multiple underground missile cities along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Naval Commander has called these missile cities as a nightmare for Iran enemies.

WION Dispatch: Iran Navy Chief makes massive claim, Iran missile cities nightmare for Iran enemies

Iran claims to have established multiple underground "missile cities" along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-negotiating-25-year-accord-with-china-310927">Also Read:&nbsp;Iran says negotiating 25-year accord with China</a>

The naval commander of Iran’s revolutionary guards has called these missile cities a "nightmare for Iran’s enemies".

Iran is calling these missile cities underground "facilities" that house missile systems with underground silos protecting weapons from enemy airstrikes. 
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Iran’s rear admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri revealed that the underground facilities contain surface-to-air missiles. Admiral Reza also claimed that Iran has established off-shore missile launch sites along the Gulf coast.

The location of these so-called underground missile cities is important. Iran claims their facilities are facing the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The idea is to tighten Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz which is the key shipping route for 20 per cent of the world’s oil supplies. Tehran has in the past made threats to close down the shipping route.

The announcement is a clear message to US and its regional allies. Unlike military facilities on the surface which can be tracked using surveillance drones, underground silos are largely untraceable. Iran’s claims come in the aftermath of a major fire at the country’s Nantaz nuclear facility. The government has admitted that the incident set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months.

Although it was initially considered to be an accident, reports now indicate that Iran is suspecting a foreign hand. 
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Iran claims to have established multiple underground "missile cities" along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Also Read: Iran says negotiating 25-year accord with China The naval commander of Iran’s revolutionary guards has called these missile cities a "nightmare for Iran’s enemies".

Iran claims to have established multiple underground "missile cities" along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Also Read: Iran says negotiating 25-year accord with China The naval commander of Iran’s revolutionary guards has called these missile cities a "nightmare for Iran’s enemies". Iran is calling these missile cities underground "facilities" that house missile systems with underground silos protecting weapons from enemy airstrikes. Iran’s rear admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri revealed that the underground facilities contain surface-to-air missiles. Admiral Reza also claimed that Iran has established off-shore missile launch sites along the Gulf coast. The location of these so-called underground missile cities is important. Iran claims their facilities are facing the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The idea is to tighten Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz which is the key shipping route for 20 per cent of the world’s oil supplies. Tehran has in the past made threats to close down the shipping route. The announcement is a clear message to US and its regional allies. Unlike military facilities on the surface which can be tracked using surveillance drones, underground silos are largely untraceable. Iran’s claims come in the aftermath of a major fire at the country’s Nantaz nuclear facility. The government has admitted that the incident set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. Although it was initially considered to be an accident, reports now indicate that Iran is suspecting a foreign hand.

Iran claims to have built multiple underground 'missile cities' along Persian Gulf

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Iran Proposes Regional Peace Plan

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-intends-to-restart-activities-at-arak-heavy-water-nuclear-reactor-report-238974">Iran</a> on Sunday slammed as "provocative" a British proposal for a European-led naval mission to escort tankers in the Gulf, amid <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-ships-stranded-in-brazil-are-set-to-depart-officials-238954">soaring tensions over the seizure of ships</a>.

"We heard that they intend to send a European fleet to the Persian Gulf which naturally carries a hostile message, is provocative and will increase tensions," government spokesman Ali Rabiei said, quoted by ISNA news agency.

Britain said on Monday it was planning a European-led force to escort tankers through the world's busiest oil shipping lane in response to Iran's seizure of a UK-flagged vessel on July 19.

The seizure of the Stena Impero came two weeks after British authorities detained an Iranian tanker the Grace 1 off its overseas territory Gibraltar on allegations it was breaching EU sanctions on Syria.

In his comments on Sunday, the government spokesman said Iran believed the security of the oil-rich Gulf had to be maintained by countries in the region.

"We are the biggest agent of maritime security in the Persian Gulf," said Rabiei.

Britain on Thursday ordered its navy to escort <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-zarif-calls-for-prudence-and-foresight-as-tensions-mount-with-uk-237486">UK-flagged ships </a>through the Strait of Hormuz, where the Stena Impero was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

But it has so far only received a cool response from the continent to its proposal for a multi-national escort fleet that would exclude the United States.

France said on Thursday it was not willing to send extra military assets to the Gulf, but would share information and coordinate its currently deployed assets.

The US military has said it is already monitoring the strait, and that it is developing a "multinational maritime effort" dubbed Operation Sentinel to increase surveillance and security in key Middle East waterways.

The 33-kilometre (22-mile) wide Strait of Hormuz provides the eastern entrance and exit point into the Gulf and runs between the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Iran's high-seas standoff with Britain comes amid rising hostilities between the Islamic republic and the UK ally the United States.

The arch-enemies have been locked in a battle of nerves since President Donald Trump withdrew the US from a landmark 2015 deal aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear programme and began reimposing sanctions.

The situation has worsened since the Trump administration began a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran this year, with drones downed and tankers mysteriously attacked in Gulf waters.

Iran on Sunday slammed as "provocative" a British proposal for a European-led naval mission to escort tankers in the Gulf, amid soaring tensions over the seizure of ships.

Iran on Sunday slammed as "provocative" a British proposal for a European-led naval mission to escort tankers in the Gulf, amid soaring tensions over the seizure of ships. "We heard that they intend to send a European fleet to the Persian Gulf which naturally carries a hostile message, is provocative and will increase tensions," government spokesman Ali Rabiei said, quoted by ISNA news agency. Britain said on Monday it was planning a European-led force to escort tankers through the world's busiest oil shipping lane in response to Iran's seizure of a UK-flagged vessel on July 19. The seizure of the Stena Impero came two weeks after British authorities detained an Iranian tanker the Grace 1 off its overseas territory Gibraltar on allegations it was breaching EU sanctions on Syria. In his comments on Sunday, the government spokesman said Iran believed the security of the oil-rich Gulf had to be maintained by countries in the region. "We are the biggest agent of maritime security in the Persian Gulf," said Rabiei. Britain on Thursday ordered its navy to escort UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where the Stena Impero was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But it has so far only received a cool response from the continent to its proposal for a multi-national escort fleet that would exclude the United States. France said on Thursday it was not willing to send extra military assets to the Gulf, but would share information and coordinate its currently deployed assets. The US military has said it is already monitoring the strait, and that it is developing a "multinational maritime effort" dubbed Operation Sentinel to increase surveillance and security in key Middle East waterways. The 33-kilometre (22-mile) wide Strait of Hormuz provides the eastern entrance and exit point into the Gulf and runs between the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Iran's high-seas standoff with Britain comes amid rising hostilities between the Islamic republic and the UK ally the United States. The arch-enemies have been locked in a battle of nerves since President Donald Trump withdrew the US from a landmark 2015 deal aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear programme and began reimposing sanctions. The situation has worsened since the Trump administration began a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran this year, with drones downed and tankers mysteriously attacked in Gulf waters.

Iran says European naval mission in Gulf would be 'provocative'

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise.

But the two ships, backed by surveillance aircraft, will not be part of a military coalition that the United States is assembling to safeguard the waters off Iran near the Straits of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil moves, the two officials said.&nbsp;

Since June following attacks on tankers that the United States blamed on Iran and Iran-aligned fighters, a charged Tehran denies, the Indian navy ships have been escorting Indian-flagged vessels in and out of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

"This is not going to stop, the situation being what it is, we will be there for the foreseeable future," said an official with knowledge of naval deployments.

India's navy, which has traditionally operated closer to home waters, has over the past year or so begun deployments across the Indian Ocean stretching from the Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia to waters off Africa, largely as a response to China's expanding weight across the region.

But the maritime operation in the Gulf is also to heed US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's call that major buyers of Middle East oil protect their own tankers, a second Indian official with knowledge of India's policy on the region said.&nbsp;

The issue figured during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Trump on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan last month and Modi told the US&nbsp;leader he had sent ships to protect Indian-flagged vessels, the official said.&nbsp;

Trump has been putting pressure on European and Asian allies to shoulder security responsibilities and not depend on the United States alone.&nbsp;

Deepening regional tensions, Iran said on Thursday it had seized a foreign tanker smuggling fuel in the Gulf, and the US&nbsp;military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels.

Refuelling

On Friday, US&nbsp;officials will speak to members of the Washington diplomatic corps about the new initiative to promote freedom of navigation and maritime security around the Strait of Hormuz, the State Department said.

New Delhi will not be formally joining such a force, in large measure because that would pit it directly against Iran, with which it has had historical political and energy ties. It also has never been part of foreign military task forces, preferring to work under the United Nations flag instead, the first official said.

India is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil after China.

"We will be carrying out the force protection measures on our own for Indian-flagged vessels. So far, nearly two dozen ships have been provided security," the official said.

But there is coordination with the US&nbsp;military with which India has a logistics support agreement, the official said.

Indian naval ships operating in the Gulf have been fuelled by the large fleet of US&nbsp;tankers and such assistance will remain because of the indefinite length of operation, the official said.&nbsp;

There have been no incidents so far involving Indian commercial shipping in the vital waterways.&nbsp;

"I surmise in a conflict we will be neutral. We will be drawn into it only if our shipping is hit," said former Indian naval officer Abhijit Singh, who heads the Maritime Policy Initiative think-tank at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation.

Singh said Indian navy ships had sailed in the Persian Gulf earlier though never exclusively to escort merchant marine.

About 15 Indian ships - destroyers, frigates, corvettes and large patrol vessels - are operating at the entry and exit points of the Indian Ocean, stretching from the Malacca Strait, through which much of China's trade and fuel is routed, to the Gulf of Aden in the west. 
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Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise.

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise. But the two ships, backed by surveillance aircraft, will not be part of a military coalition that the United States is assembling to safeguard the waters off Iran near the Straits of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil moves, the two officials said. Since June following attacks on tankers that the United States blamed on Iran and Iran-aligned fighters, a charged Tehran denies, the Indian navy ships have been escorting Indian-flagged vessels in and out of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. "This is not going to stop, the situation being what it is, we will be there for the foreseeable future," said an official with knowledge of naval deployments. India's navy, which has traditionally operated closer to home waters, has over the past year or so begun deployments across the Indian Ocean stretching from the Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia to waters off Africa, largely as a response to China's expanding weight across the region. But the maritime operation in the Gulf is also to heed US President Donald Trump's call that major buyers of Middle East oil protect their own tankers, a second Indian official with knowledge of India's policy on the region said. The issue figured during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Trump on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan last month and Modi told the US leader he had sent ships to protect Indian-flagged vessels, the official said. Trump has been putting pressure on European and Asian allies to shoulder security responsibilities and not depend on the United States alone. Deepening regional tensions, Iran said on Thursday it had seized a foreign tanker smuggling fuel in the Gulf, and the US military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels. Refuelling On Friday, US officials will speak to members of the Washington diplomatic corps about the new initiative to promote freedom of navigation and maritime security around the Strait of Hormuz, the State Department said. New Delhi will not be formally joining such a force, in large measure because that would pit it directly against Iran, with which it has had historical political and energy ties. It also has never been part of foreign military task forces, preferring to work under the United Nations flag instead, the first official said. India is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil after China. "We will be carrying out the force protection measures on our own for Indian-flagged vessels. So far, nearly two dozen ships have been provided security," the official said. But there is coordination with the US military with which India has a logistics support agreement, the official said. Indian naval ships operating in the Gulf have been fuelled by the large fleet of US tankers and such assistance will remain because of the indefinite length of operation, the official said. There have been no incidents so far involving Indian commercial shipping in the vital waterways. "I surmise in a conflict we will be neutral. We will be drawn into it only if our shipping is hit," said former Indian naval officer Abhijit Singh, who heads the Maritime Policy Initiative think-tank at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation. Singh said Indian navy ships had sailed in the Persian Gulf earlier though never exclusively to escort merchant marine. About 15 Indian ships - destroyers, frigates, corvettes and large patrol vessels - are operating at the entry and exit points of the Indian Ocean, stretching from the Malacca Strait, through which much of China's trade and fuel is routed, to the Gulf of Aden in the west.

Indian warships to stay longer in Persian Gulf, won't join US coalition

Britain will send a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-sends-second-warship-to-gulf-amid-escalating-tensions-with-iran-report-235331">third warship</a> to the Persian Gulf to maintain continuous maritime security presence, news agency Reuters reported quoting Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday.

The move is not related to the current Iran crisis, MoD added.&nbsp;

The MoD said HMS Duncan, a type 45 frigate, is transiting to the region to ensure Britain maintains a continuous maritime security presence while HMS Montrose, a type 23 frigate, undertakes planned maintenance.

Later in the year, HMS Kent, another type 23 frigate, will deploy to the region, taking over from HMS Duncan, the report added.

It said that support ship <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-standoff-tests-show-seized-tanker-was-loaded-to-capacity-with-crude-oil-confirms-uk-government-234176">RFA Wave Knight </a>will deploy to the Gulf at the start of August.

"These long-planned movements do not reflect an escalation in the UK posture in the region and are routine," the MoD added.

Earlier Britain deployed warships HMS Duncan and HMS Montrose in the region amid growing tension with Iran.

Britain will send a third warship to the Persian Gulf to maintain continuous maritime security presence, news agency Reuters reported quoting Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday.

Britain will send a third warship to the Persian Gulf to maintain continuous maritime security presence, news agency Reuters reported quoting Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday. The move is not related to the current Iran crisis, MoD added. The MoD said HMS Duncan, a type 45 frigate, is transiting to the region to ensure Britain maintains a continuous maritime security presence while HMS Montrose, a type 23 frigate, undertakes planned maintenance. Later in the year, HMS Kent, another type 23 frigate, will deploy to the region, taking over from HMS Duncan, the report added. It said that support ship RFA Wave Knight will deploy to the Gulf at the start of August. "These long-planned movements do not reflect an escalation in the UK posture in the region and are routine," the MoD added. Earlier Britain deployed warships HMS Duncan and HMS Montrose in the region amid growing tension with Iran.

Britain plans to send third warship to Persian Gulf, says move not related to current Iran crisis 

Britain deployed destroyer HMS Duncan to the Gulf to replace HMS Montrose on Friday (July 12), maintaining a continuous presence there during a time of heightened tension in the region. The warship sailed through Turkey's Bosphorus river on its way to the Persian Gulf. Relations between Tehran and the West have been increasingly strained after Britain seized an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar and London said HMS Montrose had to fend off Iranian vessels which sought to block a British-owned tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Britain deploys HMS Duncan to Gulf amid Iran tensions

The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points.

World's most important oil transit path: The strait of Hormuz

The British Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the French Marine&nbsp;Nationale&nbsp;and the US Naval Forces Central Command started a three-day joint naval&nbsp;exercise called Unified Trident on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The multilateral operation takes place in the Persian Gulf, off Bahrain&#39;s coast&nbsp;and will simulate conventional and non-conventional warfare operations. The four participant countries are currently also involved in the Combined Joint Task Force &ndash; Operation Inherent Resolve &ndash;&nbsp;fighting against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. France, US and UK are also conducting military operations in&nbsp;Libya.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;naval&nbsp;exercise&nbsp;happens dangerously close to Iran&#39;s territorial water and at a moment when&nbsp;the country&#39;s&nbsp;political relations with the US are plummeting.&nbsp;

&quot;It&rsquo;s not a show of force to the Iranians at all,&quot;&nbsp;said&nbsp;Royal Navy Lieutenant&nbsp;Commander&nbsp;Ant Wallace,&nbsp;the exercise planner,&nbsp;according to the American newspaper <a href="https://www.stripes.com/royal-navy-unified-trident-exercise-not-a-show-of-force-to-iran-1.451837">Stars and Stripes</a>, which operates within the US&nbsp;defense&nbsp;ministry.&nbsp;&quot;The reason we are doing this exercise, and I&rsquo;ll stress this over and over again, is because it&rsquo;s easier to do it here than it would be anywhere else. It&rsquo;s a key opportunity to bring ships together, to exercise together and to operate together. The fact that it is in the [Persian] Gulf is coincidental, really.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Tehran&nbsp;does not seem to share the same view and&nbsp;has promptly stated that it will not tolerate any intrusion in its waters. &ldquo;Anybody who wishes to stage a war game within the limits of the free waters should follow the international law and we do not allow anybody to get close to our waters and this is our red line,&rdquo; Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral&nbsp;Habibollah&nbsp;Sayyari&nbsp;was quoted saying by Iran&#39;s MEHR news agency.&nbsp;

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Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. (Photo courtesy: Erfan Kouchary) (Others)
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Unified Trident kicks off after a series of worrying &#39;incidents&#39; between the US and the Iranian navy in the&nbsp;Persian&nbsp;Gulf.&nbsp;On January 9, a US navy destroyer fired three warning shots at four Iranian fast-attack vessels which were approaching at fast speed. A similar episode happened in August 2016.&nbsp;

On January 12, Iran detained 10 US Navy sailors whose boats entered Iranian waters due to mechanical problems. The team was&nbsp;released&nbsp;unharmed 15 hours later.&nbsp;

If there is tension in the Gulf&#39;s water, the situation is not better on the mainland. Iran funds a wide network of Shiite militias fighting in Syria for President Bashar al-Assad who is considered an enemy by the US.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tens of thousands Shiite militiamen are also fighting in Iraq against the Islamic State under the umbrella&nbsp;organisation&nbsp;Al&nbsp;Hashd&nbsp;Al&nbsp;Shabi&nbsp;or Popular&nbsp;Mobilisation&nbsp;Forces. Some of these groups share strong anti-US feelings and directly receive funds and weapons from Tehran.&nbsp;

The militias are generally perceived as Iran proxy armies that Tehran uses to expand its influence in West Asia, a move that neither the US nor their main ally Israel look at&nbsp;favourably.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump has often vowed against Obama&#39;s nuclear agreement with Tehran. His newly appointed US&nbsp;defense&nbsp;secretary James &#39;Mad Dog&#39;&nbsp;Mattis&nbsp;has always considered Iran a major threat to any possible peace process in West Asia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;Deterrent is critical&quot; to defend the post-Second World War world&nbsp;order, said&nbsp;Mattis&nbsp;to senator McCain during the confirmation hearing. Even if it was planned before Trump&#39;s swearing in, operation Unified Trident seems to fall perfectly in line with both the presidency and the US&nbsp;defense&nbsp;secretary&#39;s views.&nbsp;

(WION)

Amid growing tensions with the US, Iran has warned that it will not tolerate any intrusion in its territorial waters

The British Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the French Marine Nationale and the US Naval Forces Central Command started a three-day joint naval exercise called Unified Trident on Tuesday. The multilateral operation takes place in the Persian Gulf, off Bahrain's coast and will simulate conventional and non-conventional warfare operations. The four participant countries are currently also involved in the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve – fighting against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. France, US and UK are also conducting military operations in Libya. The naval exercise happens dangerously close to Iran's territorial water and at a moment when the country's political relations with the US are plummeting. "It’s not a show of force to the Iranians at all," said Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Ant Wallace, the exercise planner, according to the American newspaper Stars and Stripes, which operates within the US defense ministry. "The reason we are doing this exercise, and I’ll stress this over and over again, is because it’s easier to do it here than it would be anywhere else. It’s a key opportunity to bring ships together, to exercise together and to operate together. The fact that it is in the [Persian] Gulf is coincidental, really.” Tehran does not seem to share the same view and has promptly stated that it will not tolerate any intrusion in its waters. “Anybody who wishes to stage a war game within the limits of the free waters should follow the international law and we do not allow anybody to get close to our waters and this is our red line,” Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari was quoted saying by Iran's MEHR news agency. Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. (Photo courtesy: Erfan Kouchary) (Others) × Unified Trident kicks off after a series of worrying 'incidents' between the US and the Iranian navy in the Persian Gulf. On January 9, a US navy destroyer fired three warning shots at four Iranian fast-attack vessels which were approaching at fast speed. A similar episode happened in August 2016. On January 12, Iran detained 10 US Navy sailors whose boats entered Iranian waters due to mechanical problems. The team was released unharmed 15 hours later. If there is tension in the Gulf's water, the situation is not better on the mainland. Iran funds a wide network of Shiite militias fighting in Syria for President Bashar al-Assad who is considered an enemy by the US. Tens of thousands Shiite militiamen are also fighting in Iraq against the Islamic State under the umbrella organisation Al Hashd Al Shabi or Popular Mobilisation Forces. Some of these groups share strong anti-US feelings and directly receive funds and weapons from Tehran. The militias are generally perceived as Iran proxy armies that Tehran uses to expand its influence in West Asia, a move that neither the US nor their main ally Israel look at favourably. President Donald Trump has often vowed against Obama's nuclear agreement with Tehran. His newly appointed US defense secretary James 'Mad Dog' Mattis has always considered Iran a major threat to any possible peace process in West Asia. "Deterrent is critical" to defend the post-Second World War world order, said Mattis to senator McCain during the confirmation hearing. Even if it was planned before Trump's swearing in, operation Unified Trident seems to fall perfectly in line with both the presidency and the US defense secretary's views. (WION)

Joint US, UK, Australian, French naval operation kicks off in Persian Gulf

A US Navy ship fired warning shots after an Iranian fast-attack craft approached two US ships in the northern Gulf, a Pentagon official said yesterday, in the most serious of a number of incidents in the same area this week. 
 
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the USS Squall patrol craft fired three warning shots from a .50 caliber gun after warning flares did not work. 
 
The incident, which happened on Wednesday, started with three Iranian vessels, but there was only one around by the time the warning shots were fired, the official said. He described the Iranian behaviour as &quot;unsafe, unprofessional, and not routine.&quot; 
 
At one point, the Iranian vessel came within 200 yards (193 meters) of a US ship, the official said. 
 
Iranian ships harassed US naval vessels in three recent incidents,&nbsp;a US official said yesterday. 
 
Tensions have increased in the Gulf in recent days despite an improvement in relations between Iran and the United States. 
 
The most dramatic moment in Wednesday&#39;s three events occurred when an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps boat maneuvered around two US patrol ships, the USS Squall and USS Tempest. 
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<h5>A State Department spokeswoman said it was not clear what the intentions of the Iranian ships were, but the behavior was unacceptable.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=A State Department spokeswoman said it was not clear what the intentions of the Iranian ships were, but the behavior was unacceptable." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a>?</div>
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All three of Wednesday&#39;s encounters occurred in international waters in the northern Persian Gulf, Navy spokesman Commander Bill Urban said. 
 
The incidents come after the Pentagon accused Iranian vessels of harassing a US warship near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. 
 
Earlier yesterday, Iran&#39;s defense minister said those Iranian vessels were just doing their job. 
 
&ldquo;If an American ship enters Iran&rsquo;s maritime region, it will definitely get a warning. We will monitor them and, if they violate our waters, we will confront them,&rdquo; defence minister Hossein Dehghan said in a statement reported by the Iranian Students&rsquo; News Agency. 
 
A State Department spokeswoman said it was not clear what the intentions of the Iranian ships were, but the behavior was unacceptable. 
 
&quot;We believe that these type of actions are of concern, they unnecessarily escalate tensions,&quot; State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told a briefing.
In January, the Iranian navy briefly captured the crews of two US patrol boats that had, through a series of blunders, strayed into Iranian territorial waters.

The 10 American sailors were released within 24 hours.
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

?Tensions have increased in the Gulf in recent days despite an improvement in relations between Iran and the United States

A US Navy ship fired warning shots after an Iranian fast-attack craft approached two US ships in the northern Gulf, a Pentagon official said yesterday, in the most serious of a number of incidents in the same area this week. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the USS Squall patrol craft fired three warning shots from a .50 caliber gun after warning flares did not work. The incident, which happened on Wednesday, started with three Iranian vessels, but there was only one around by the time the warning shots were fired, the official said. He described the Iranian behaviour as "unsafe, unprofessional, and not routine." At one point, the Iranian vessel came within 200 yards (193 meters) of a US ship, the official said. Iranian ships harassed US naval vessels in three recent incidents, a US official said yesterday. Tensions have increased in the Gulf in recent days despite an improvement in relations between Iran and the United States. The most dramatic moment in Wednesday's three events occurred when an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps boat maneuvered around two US patrol ships, the USS Squall and USS Tempest. A State Department spokeswoman said it was not clear what the intentions of the Iranian ships were, but the behavior was unacceptable. ? All three of Wednesday's encounters occurred in international waters in the northern Persian Gulf, Navy spokesman Commander Bill Urban said. The incidents come after the Pentagon accused Iranian vessels of harassing a US warship near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Earlier yesterday, Iran's defense minister said those Iranian vessels were just doing their job. “If an American ship enters Iran’s maritime region, it will definitely get a warning. We will monitor them and, if they violate our waters, we will confront them,” defence minister Hossein Dehghan said in a statement reported by the Iranian Students’ News Agency. A State Department spokeswoman said it was not clear what the intentions of the Iranian ships were, but the behavior was unacceptable. "We believe that these type of actions are of concern, they unnecessarily escalate tensions," State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told a briefing. In January, the Iranian navy briefly captured the crews of two US patrol boats that had, through a series of blunders, strayed into Iranian territorial waters. The 10 American sailors were released within 24 hours. (WION with inputs from agencies)

US destroyer fires warning shots at Iranian vessel

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