US Files Formal Protest to Iran Over Ship Incident

Tehran releases own video, rejects American version of events
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 10, 2008 4:28 PM CST
US Files Formal Protest to Iran Over Ship Incident
A US naval ship is purportedly seen in this image taken from TV Thursday Jan. 10, 2008. Iranian state TV aired video Thursday purporting to show a weekend standoff between small Iranian boats and US naval ships in the Persian Gulf. The grainy video without sound or narration showed a man speaking into...   (Associated Press)

The US sent a formal diplomatic complaint to Iran today over what it calls the "provocative" harassment of American ships by Iranian speedboats, the AP reports. Iran, meanwhile, released its own video of the encounter in the Persian Gulf, which it says backs up its contention that the US is lying. A Pentagon spokesman dismissed  that claim today.

It's unclear what impact the US complaint will have, but the incident has added to the growing strain between the two governments. President Bush has warned of "serious consequences" if it happens again. An Iranian naval officer says the Bush administration made the whole thing up because it "is in need of such media fuss in order to reach its specific political goals.” (More Strait of Hormuz stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X