US accuses Iran of conducting missile test near warships

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman transits the Strait of Hormuz on December 26. J Lieberknecht / US Navy via AP

Iranian naval vessels conducted rocket tests last week near US warships and commercial traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the American military said Wednesday, causing new tension between the two nations after a landmark nuclear deal.

The vital strait is crucial for ships taking part in the war against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. In the past, Iran has threatened to block the strait, which lies at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf.

While the United States has complained previously about other Iranian war games and manoeuvres there, Saturday’s incident comes after a series of weapons tests and other moves by the Iran following the nuclear deal.

Iranian media and officials did not immediately discuss the tests Wednesday.

Commodore Kyle Raines, a US Central Command spokesman, said in a statement that Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval vessels fired "several unguided rockets" about 1,370 meters from the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier, the USS Bulkeley destroyer and a French frigate, the FS Provence. Cmdr Raines said commercial sea traffic also was nearby, though the missiles were not fired in the direction of any ships.

Cmdr Raines said the Iranian vessels announced over maritime radio that they’d carry out a live fire exercise only 23 minutes beforehand.

Iran’s “actions were highly provocative,” he said. “Firing weapons so close to passing coalition ships and commercial traffic within an internationally recognised maritime traffic lane is unsafe, unprofessional and inconsistent with international maritime law.”

NBC News first reported news of the Iranian rocket fire.

The Strait of Hormuz is only about 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point between Iran and Oman. Ships traversing the chokepoint have even less room to manoeuvre. The shipping lane in either direction is only 3.22 kilometres wide, with a 3.22-kilometre buffer zone between them.

The US Navy’s 5th Fleet is based in nearby Bahrain. It conducts antipiracy patrols in the greater Gulf and serves as a regional counterbalance to Iran.

* Associated Press