Pentagon Says Iran Boats Provoked US Warships in Strait of Hormuz

By VOA News 07 January 2008

U.S. officials say five Iranian naval boats provoked three American warships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

Military officials said Monday that the American ships prepared to fire after the Iranian military speedboats acted aggressively, charging the U.S. boats before veering away and dropping boxes in the water.

Pentagon officials say the Iranians used an open radio frequency to warn the U.S. ships that they would blow up after a couple of minutes.

The White House called the incident "provocative" and warned Tehran to refrain from such actions that could lead to a "dangerous incident in the future."

The Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the United Arab Emirates is a key shipping route for oil. Both the Iranian and the U.S. navies patrol the waterway.