Iran’s navy warned a U.S. warship on Wednesday to leave waters in the sea of Oman near an area where the Islamic Republic was performing military drills.
The commander of Iran’s fleet, Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari, told Tasnim news agency the U.S. ship was trying to collect information near the Strait of Hormuz where the Iranians were testing submarines, destroyers and missile launchers, Reuters reported.
Adm. Sayyari said he believed the American ship had approached the area to “learn our tactics,” according to The Associated Press. The U.S. ship left quickly after it received the alert.
“It was predictable that the U.S. warship would approach the area to collect information on (our) military operations. So we warned them twice in the morning … to keep their distance from the exercise area and keep clear of our missile range for their own safety,” Adm. Sayyari was quoted as saying by Tasnim.
He said Iran followed international convention guidelines that a country should clear out all other military and trade ships from an area before starting and military exercise.
“The maneuver aims to show Iranian forces’ strength both in ensuring security on the seas and in defending the country’s sea borders in Hormuz Strait, Sea of Oman and north of the Indian Ocean,” Adm. Sayyari was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital oil and gas shipping route. It is estimated that about one fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the strait.
There has been no immediate reaction from Washington. The incident comes just two weeks after Iran detained 10 U.S. Navy sailors after their vessel drifted in to Iranian waters.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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