The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that an IRGC vessel attempted to blind the bridges of two American naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on December 5, calling the incident “unsafe and unprofessional manner.”
An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy patrol boat interacted in an unsafe and unprofessional manner as U.S. Navy ships transited the Strait of Hormuz, the evening of Dec. 5 @US5thFleet https://t.co/f0c1OmXA3z pic.twitter.com/bVylQdhtB0
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 6, 2022
In a press release, CENTCOM stated that the expeditionary sea base platform ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) and guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) were “conducting a routine transit in international waters” when the Iranina vessel “attempted to blind the bridge by shining a spotlight and crossed within 150 yards of the U.S. ships – dangerously close, particularly at night.”
“The U.S. ships safely deescalated the situation through the employment of audible warnings and non-lethal lasers. U.S. Navy ships continued their transit without further incident.”
The statement concluded by saying that “the IRGCN’s actions violated international standards of professional and safe maritime behavior, increasing the risk of miscalculation and collision.”
