(US NAVY/CNN) - U.S. defense officials said a U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots at an armed Iranian patrol boat in the northern end of the Persian Gulf on Tuesday.
According to the officials, the Iranian boat approached and came within 150 yards of the USS Thunderbolt.
The Iranians did not respond to any warnings from the U.S. ship, including radio calls, firing of flares and five short blasts from the ship's whistle.
The Navy ship then fired warning shots into the water over concerns about the possibility of a collision.
Then the Iranian ship ceased its provocative actions but lingered in the area for hours.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard is telling a different story.
In a statement published by Iran's official news agency, the Guard claims it "foiled the U.S. warship's provocative move against an Iranian Navy patrol boat."
The statement went on to say that the U.S. warship aimed to instigate and frighten the Iranian boat by firing two warning shots.
Copyright 2017 US NAVY via CNN. All rights reserved.
