IRGC Official Warns of Consequences Following Recent US Navy Encounter in Strait of Hormuz

Two days after a US government official reported that IRGC fast boats dangerously and unprofessionally approached a US Navy ship at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, an IRGC official labeled the US Navy's actions as 'unprofessional' and warned that 'such actions could have irreparable consequences.' On Monday, an unnamed US official stated that IRGC vessels came within 550 meters of the US Navy's 'USS Invincible' and 'the ship had to change its course.' The US official added that attempts were made to establish radio communication with the IRGC vessels, but no response was received; he described this encounter as 'dangerous and unprofessional.' Reports indicate that the US Navy ship was accompanied by three British naval vessels. Military expert Hossein Aryan told Radio Farda that the mentioned ship is equipped with a powerful dual-band radar and is responsible for tracking ballistic missile launches. In this context, according to the Sepah News website, Rear Admiral Mehdi Hashemi, commander of the 112th Zulfiqar Combat Flotilla of the IRGC Navy, on Wednesday, March 9, reacted to these developments by calling the US official's statements 'incorrect' and accused him of 'lying,' 'creating unrealistic images,' and 'projection and evasion.' Hashemi explained that on Saturday, 'a US Navy ship from the American and British task force that was passing through the traffic zone of the Strait of Hormuz deviated from the international route and changed course towards the IRGC Navy vessels in the area, coming dangerously close to our vessels at a distance of 550 meters in an unprofessional manner.' This IRGC official added: 'The presence of American and British vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, accompanied by fear and panic, jeopardizes the security of this strategic region, which supplies a significant portion of the world's energy, and their unprofessional actions exacerbate tensions and insecurity and could have irreparable consequences.' The encounter on Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz follows a report from the US Department of Defense stating that the previous Thursday (March 3), an Iranian frigate had approached within 150 meters of the 'Invincible' and three British naval vessels. Jeff Davis, a spokesperson for the US Department of Defense, stated that 'this is concerning and such a situation could lead to a miscalculation or accidental provocation, which we do not want.' The Pentagon official also added: 'Prior to this recent incident, we had observed improvements in Iran's behavior.' The recent actions of the IRGC vessels come at a time when Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has warned since his election campaign that any Iranian fast boat that harasses US Navy ships in the Persian Gulf will be targeted.