Tehran, Iran, Nov. 29
By Mehdi Sepahvand – Trend:
After US defense officials said an Iranian vessel had pointed weapon at a US helicopter in the Persian Gulf, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Marine Force has responded harshly.
“Do not poison the atmosphere, the problem is your unnecessary and unprofessional presence,” Sepah News of the IRGC quoted an unnamed source from the IRGC Marine Force as having said November 29.
A small IRGC vessel pointed its weapon at a US military helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz November 26, two US defense officials said November 28.
“The real problem in the Persian Gulf today is the presence of Americans, who try to show that situations are unnatural. Other countries are observing international rules to frequent the area day and night,” the source said, adding, “We will not heed to such moves and will calmly pursue our missions at our territorial waters and leave the judgment to the audience.”
The incident is the latest in a series of similar ones this year, but the first reported since Republican Donald Trump won the US presidential election on Nov. 8.
During his campaign, Trump vowed that any Iranian vessel that harasses US Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf will be “shot out of the water,” if he was elected. Trump is due to take office on Jan. 20.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident took place when a navy MH-60 helicopter flew within half a mile (0.8 km) of two Iranian vessels in international waters. One of the vessels pointed a weapon at the helicopter, the US officials said.