Naval forces from the United States and the United Kingdom went to the aid of a Greek-owned bulker being “harassed” by ships from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Sunday.
In a statement on Monday, the US navy said the incident happened in the Strait of Hormuz and saw three fast-attack Guard vessels with armed troops aboard approach the merchant ship at a close distance.
The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul and the UK Navy’s frigate HMS Lancaster responded to the incident, with the Lancaster launching a helicopter.
“The situation deescalated approximately an hour later when the merchant vessel confirmed the fast-attack craft departed the scene,” the US Navy said in its statement.
“The merchant ship continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz without further incident.”
This latest incident comes after a series of maritime incidents involving Iran following the US unilaterally withdrawing from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018.
Source: Ekathimerini.
