Iran warns US warship to leave the Strait of Hormuz

The Iranian Navy warned a US warship on Wednesday to leave the waters near the Strait of Hormuz, where the Iranians were testing submarines, destroyers and missile launchers.

The Commander of Iran’s fleet Rear-Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told Tasnim news agency the US ship was trying to collect information in the Sea of Oman, explaining that the ship left quickly after the warning.

There was no immediate reaction from Washington which this month joined other world powers to lift sanctions on the Islamic Republic after Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program.

In the days before the deal, Iran briefly held ten US sailors after their boats entered its waters because of what they said was a navigational error.

Tasnim quoted Sayyari saying: “It was predictable that the US 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.”

He added that Iran has acted in line with the international convention that a country should clear out all other military and trade ships from an area before starting any exercise.