File image.
Video footage showing a recent confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz between an amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy and speed boats of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was released on August 19 during the 24th assembly of the guard’s commanders in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
IRGC Navy Chief Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri said U.S. helicopters were forced to land on the back deck of the ship shortly after taking off, following the arrival of speed boats deployed by the Zolfaqar flotilla present near the scene.
In the footage, Iranian speed boats can be seen monitoring and chasing the American ship, which was identified as USS Bataan.
This was the first time U.S. naval forces infiltrated into the Gulf waters in around two years, Tangsiri pointed out, adding that the standoff took place on August 17.
Tangsiri stressed that security in the Gulf can be maintained by neighboring countries without the presence of any foreign forces.
The standoff came amid rising tensions between Iran and the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf. In July, the Pentagon deployed F-35 and F-16 fighter jets, along with several warships and additional marines to the Middle East, in order to deter Iranian naval forces who seized two tankers in the gulf earlier this year. The IRGC responded by holding a series of naval drills earlier this month.
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