Key insights
- Iran claims to have fired warning missiles and drones at US warships in the Gulf of Oman, accusing the US Navy of harassment. This follows a US interception of a sanctioned vessel linked to Iran. The incident escalates existing tensions over maritime security and sanctions enforcement in a critical global shipping region, potentially impacting oil prices and increasing geopolitical risk.
DUBAI, June 5 (Reuters) - Iran's navy said on Friday it had fired warning missiles and drones at U.S. warships in the Gulf of Oman, accusing the U.S. Navy of harassing maritime traffic and seizing commercial vessels and oil tankers, Iranian state media reported.
Earlier, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said U.S. forces had intercepted the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T DAVINA in the Indian Ocean overnight.
"We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate," it said in a post on X.
The exchange comes amid heightened tensions over maritime security around Iran, as Washington enforces sanctions on Iranian oil shipments and Tehran has repeatedly threatened shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
(Reporting by Jana Choukeir and Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Ros Russell)