LOC01:42
22:42 GMT
WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (KUNA) -- The US said on Tuesday an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy patrol boat recently acted in an "unsafe and unprofessional manner" in the presence of US Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident occurred on Monday evening, the Pentagon said, as "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."
"The Iranian vessel attempted to blind the bridge by shining a spotlight and crossed within 150 yards of the US ships - dangerously close, particularly at night," according to the Pentagon statement.
"The US ships safely deescalated the situation through the employment of audible warnings and non-lethal lasers. US Navy ships continued their transit without further incident."
The US accused Iran of carrying out a "dangerous action" that "violated international standards of professional and safe maritime behavior, increasing the risk of miscalculation and collision." (end)
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