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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 in the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route. The US said their ships were about to open fire when the Iranian boats withdrew.
The US said their ships were about to fire when the Iranian boats withdrew.
The White House has 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. Iran played down the event, describing it as an "ordinary occurrence".
'Serious provocation''Serious provocation'
The speedboats came within about 200m of the US vessels, a Pentagon official told the French news agency AFP. The speedboats, identified as belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, came within about 200m of the US vessels, Pentagon officials said.
"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 confrontation 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. Pentagon officials have insisted that the US navy cruiser, destroyer and frigate were in international waters.
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.
The incident follows a row that erupted last March when Iranian Revolutionary Guards captured 15 British sailors and held them for nearly two weeks.The incident follows a row that erupted last March when Iranian Revolutionary Guards captured 15 British sailors and held them for nearly two weeks.
Iran said the crew had strayed into Iranian waters, a claim which Britain disputed.Iran said the crew had strayed into Iranian waters, a claim which Britain disputed.
Ready to respondReady to respond
The latest confrontation comes as US President George Bush is to begin a tour of the Middle East on Wednesday. The latest confrontation comes as US President George Bush is to begin a six-day 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.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.