IRGC: US Warship Made Provocative Move Against Our Patrol Vessel

The third naval zone of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday, August 25, released a different account of the confrontation between its patrol boat and a US warship, claiming that the US military vessel made a "provocative move" against the Iranian vessel. According to Fars and Tasnim news agencies, close to the IRGC, the public relations office of the third naval zone issued a statement reacting to reports about an Iranian boat harassing a US warship in the Persian Gulf. The IRGC stated: "This morning, a US cruiser moved towards an IRGC naval patrol vessel that was patrolling in international waters and fired two warning shots with the intent to provoke and create fear." The statement continued: "The IRGC naval vessel continued its mission without paying attention to their unprofessional and provocative behavior, and shortly after, the US vessel left the area." This claim comes at a time when the IRGC and military officials of the Islamic Republic have previously spoken about warning US warships in Iranian territorial waters. This is the first time the IRGC has provided an account of a "provocative move" by a US warship. US defense officials announced on Tuesday that an Iranian patrol vessel approached the USS Thunderbolt during exercises conducted by US and allied ships in the Persian Gulf, coming within about 140 meters of it. Reports from US media indicate that the mentioned ship attempted to establish radio contact, fired flares, and sounded alarms to drive the Iranian boat away and prevent a collision, but the Iranian vessel did not heed the warnings, leading to warning shots being fired into the surrounding waters. The IRGC is responsible for the protection and security of Iranian territorial waters. Two years ago, on the eve of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the IRGC navy detained ten American sailors but released them less than a day later. Tuesday's confrontation marks the third encounter between IRGC patrols and US warships in the past five months. Previously, in May and June, US officials criticized the "unprofessional and dangerous" encounters with IRGC speedboats and warned of the "risk of miscalculation" that could lead to military confrontation. In recent months, the US has adopted a tougher stance towards Iran, particularly the IRGC, and the US Congress is considering placing this military force on the list of terrorist organizations. The commander of the IRGC and the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces have warned against such a decision, threatening that this action would jeopardize all US bases in the region. The US has repeatedly expressed concern over the IRGC's ballistic missile program, labeling Iran's tests in this area as a threat to peace and stability in the Middle East, and has imposed sanctions on individuals and institutions related to this program. In this context, the US warship fired warning shots in response to the approach of the armed Iranian boat. The confrontation is described as "tense" between the US destroyer and the IRGC boat in the Persian Gulf. Will the continued provocations by the IRGC lead Iran to the brink of war with the US? An American commander reported on the "unprofessional" behavior of an Iranian boat in the Strait of Hormuz. The US House of Representatives is proposing to establish a communication line with Iran in the Persian Gulf.