Forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Persian Gulf. FILE IMAGE: IRNA
The Iranian Navy had forced an “American nuclear submarine” to surface in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian navy commander Admiral Shahram Irani told state television on April 20.
“The submarine was approaching the Strait of Hormuz in complete silence and under the water when it was spotted, identified, and intercepted by the Iranian Fateh submarine and was forced to go to the surface with destructive maneuvers and had to cross the Strait while remaining on the surface of the water,” said the admiral.
The admiral identified the submarine as USS Florida, adding that it violated Iran territorial waters. The United States Navy deployed the Ohio-class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine in the Middle East earlier this month to support the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet.
“This submarine was doing its best, using all its capacities, to pass in total silence and without being detected,” Irani said. “We will certainly reflect to international bodies the fact that it had violated our border.”
In a statement to Reuters, the U.S. Navy denied the claims made by the Iranian Navy commander, describing the alleged encounter as “disinformation”.
“A U.S. submarine has not transited the Strait of Hormuz today or recently,” Commander Timothy Hawkins told the news agency. “The claim represents more Iranian disinformation that does not contribute to regional maritime security and stability.”
Tensions in the Persian Gulf began to rise after a deadly confrontation between U.S. troops and forces backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that took place in Syria’s northeastern region late in March. The confrontation killed a U.S. military contractor and wounded 25 U.S. service members along with a second U.S. contractor. Eight Iranian-aliened fighters were also killed.
In early April, the Iranian Navy said it identified and warned off a U.S. Navy EP-3E intelligence plane outside the mouth of the gulf.
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