Iranian Navy’s Military Craft Chases American Ship In The Persian Gulf

The United Kingdom warned seafarers about attempts of Iranian military, ordering vessels into entering Iranian waters.

On Friday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) mentioned many incidents involving VHF radio challenges to ships, some of which included demands to alter course.

Per UKMTO, the incidents were related to a military exercise being performed by Iran’s Islamic Republican Guard Corps (IRGC), called Great Prophet XVIII.

This exercise is 2 months long and came amidst tensions with Israel that saw the two nations exchange fire last year.

UKMTO added that these exercises warned mariners that ships in or close to Iran’s territorial waters might experience VHF hailing.

UKMTO also reported a suspicious approach of a small military craft towards the US-flagged RORO vessel Liberty Power in the Persian Gulf near Iran.

The former flashed a green laser light towards the latter’s bridge and ordered it to turn towards Iranian waters.

Per security firm Vanguard, the military craft showed aggressive behaviour and forced the ship Liberty Power into Iranian waters.

Per reports, it was an Iranian military craft and had an Iranian flag onboard.

The Joint Maritime Information Center said that the incident is related to the Iranian military exercise.

This incident is not new as Iran has been blamed for detaining several merchant ships in the last few years.

References: Splash247, Yahoo News

Source: Maritime Shipping News