US denies Iran’s claim of firing warning shots at warships
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
The United States military has rejected Iran’s claim that it fired warning shots at American warships, saying that no such incident took place. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that Iranian forces neither attacked nor fired upon US naval vessels. “Such an action would have been a clear violation of the ceasefire”, the post reads. Earlier, the Iranian military’s public relations department had announced that the country’s navy fired warning shots at US destroyers in the Gulf of Oman. Iranian television also aired videos that it claimed showed the warning fire, including footage of missiles being launched from a mobile launcher and a drone taking off. According to the Iranian military statement, the operation was part of ongoing measures against “maritime violations, harassment, and the seizure of commercial ships and oil tankers” by the US Navy. However, the US has rejected the allegations, saying there is no truth to Iran’s claims. Hezbollah rejects ceasefire plan as Israel continues Lebanon strikes