IRGC rejects allegation of vessel ‘harassment’
A naval commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps on Monday dismissed a Western allegation that Iranian forces had “harassed” a foreign cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, saying they responded to a distress call.
The US Navy claimed earlier in the day that American and British marines came to the aid of a ship after IRGC forces “harassed” it. Three fast-attack Guard vessels with armed troops aboard approached the merchant ship at a close distance Sunday afternoon, the US Navy said in a statement.
IRGC Rear Admiral Abbas Gholamshahi said that the boats simply responded to a request for help from the ship to “alleviate its concerns,” IRNA reported.
The commander said that the Marshall Islands-flagged ship requested assistance via Channel 16, an international frequency for distress calls, upon entering the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. Gholamshahi explained that the ship’s captain reported that they had seen three small non-military boats a few miles away from their vessel and were concerned about any potential harassment.