Iran denies firing rockets near US warships in the Gulf
Iranian army spokesman dismisses as “psychological warfare” US claims that rockets were fired near its warships.
Iran has denied American accusations that it conducted “provocative” rocket tests near US Navy vessels patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.
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Ramezan Shariff, a military spokesman, said on Thursday that Iranian forces didn’t carry out any drills or fire rockets near the key route for oil exports out of the Gulf.
Shariff dismissed the US claims that it fired “unguided rockets” near its vessels on Saturday as “psychological warfare” against Iran.
“Publication of such false news under the present circumstances is more of a psychological warfare,” Sharif said in comments posted on the Revolutionary Guard’s website.
The US Navy told Al Jazeera in an email that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard test-fired rockets in close proximity to several US and French vessels, as well as commercial ships.
“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,” said Commander Kevin Stephens, a US Navy spokesman.
The US said the rockets were not fired in the direction of vessels from the US or any other state.