A U.S. defense official has dismissed Iranian state media claims that a U.S. Navy warship acted aggressively during an encounter with an Iranian helicopter in the Gulf of Oman. The official asserted that the interaction was ‘safe and professional,’ contradicting reports that the war than the warship attempted to approach Iranian-controlled waters in a provocative manner. The incident occurred when the USS Fitzgerald, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer, encountered an Iranian SH-3 ‘Sea King’ helicopter in international waters off the Gulf of Oman.
While Iranian state media alleged the warship engaged the helicopter in an aggressive manner, the defense official described the encounter as having ‘no impact to USS Fitzgerald’s mission.’ The official also criticized the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for spreading misinformation. The event unfolded amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities adding to the volatile situation.
The Iranian army’s defense system reportedly took action, prompting the U.S. warship to alter its course before departing the area. Both sides are engaged in a complex geopolitical rivalry, with the incident underscoring the ongoing tensions in the region.