This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7175325.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Iran boats 'threatened US ships' Iran boats 'threatened US ships'
(30 minutes later)
Five Iranian speedboats harassed three US navy ships at the weekend, approaching them and radioing a threat to blow them up, US officials say.Five Iranian speedboats harassed three US navy ships at the weekend, approaching them and radioing a threat to blow them up, US officials say.
The incident happened as the US vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which separates the Arabian peninsula and Iran, Pentagon officials said.The incident happened as the US vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which separates the Arabian peninsula and Iran, Pentagon officials said.
US sailors came close to opening fire, unnamed officials told CNN. The US said their ships were about to fire when the Iranian boats withdrew.
The White House on Monday warned Iran against "provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident". The White House has warned Iran against "provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident".
There has been no immediate comment by Iran.
'Serious provocation'
The speedboats came within about 200m of the US vessels, a Pentagon official told the French news agency AFP.The speedboats came within about 200m of the US vessels, a Pentagon official told the French news agency AFP.
"I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes," the Iranians said in a radio transmission, according to the officials."I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes," the Iranians said in a radio transmission, according to the officials.
The Iranian craft turned away "literally at the very moment that US forces were preparing to open fire", the Associated Press reported, also citing an unnamed Pentagon official.The Iranian craft turned away "literally at the very moment that US forces were preparing to open fire", the Associated Press reported, also citing an unnamed Pentagon official.
He said that it was "the most serious provocation of this sort" that had occurred to date.He said that it was "the most serious provocation of this sort" that had occurred to date.
The incident took place between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, reports said, although it was not clear exactly when.The incident took place between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, reports said, although it was not clear exactly when.
Some officials identified the Iranian boats as belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.Some officials identified the Iranian boats as belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
At the time, the US navy cruiser, destroyer and frigate were entering the Gulf on what is a major oil shipping route, AP reported.At the time, the US navy cruiser, destroyer and frigate were entering the Gulf on what is a major oil shipping route, AP reported.
Pentagon officials insist the US ships were in international waters.Pentagon officials insist the US ships were in international waters.
The incident comes as US President George Bush is due to begin a tour of the Middle East on Wednesday. The incident follows a row that erupted last March when Iranian Revolutionary Guards captured 15 British sailors and held them for nearly two weeks.
Long-standing US-Iranian tensions remain over Iran's nuclear programme, although these have been somewhat reduced since a report made public in late 2007 said the US intelligence community believed Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons programme in 2003. Iran said the crew had strayed into Iranian waters, a claim which Britain disputed.
The incident also follows a row last March after Iranian Revolutionary Guards captured 15 British sailors and held them for nearly two weeks. Ready to respond
Iran says the crew had strayed into Iranian waters, a claim which Britain disputes. The latest confrontation comes as US President George Bush is to begin a tour of the Middle East on Wednesday.
Long-standing US-Iranian tensions remain over Iran's nuclear programme, although these have been somewhat reduced since the US intelligence community released a report in late 2007 that said Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons programme in 2003.
The BBC's Paul Reynolds says the key question is whether this is a one-off incident or whether it heralds a more aggressive stance by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.The BBC's Paul Reynolds says the key question is whether this is a one-off incident or whether it heralds a more aggressive stance by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The latter policy would be unexpected given the lowering of tension over the nuclear issue, he says, but as the incident of the captured British naval personnel showed, tensions are always high. The latter policy would be unexpected, given the lowering of tension over the nuclear issue, he says, but as the incident of the captured British naval personnel showed, tensions are always high.
There is no doubt that the US is ready to respond, our correspondent adds.There is no doubt that the US is ready to respond, our correspondent adds.