Iran Warns US Warship in Gulf Standoff, But Pentagon Says “Nothing to See Here”

Tensions briefly flared in the Gulf of Oman this week after Iran said it warned a US Navy destroyer to change course as it neared Iranian territorial waters — a claim the US promptly shrugged off as much ado about nothing.

Iranian state media released video and images of the encounter on Wednesday, reportedly captured from a military helicopter sent to intercept the USS Fitzgerald, a guided-missile destroyer. The footage marks the first publicly acknowledged encounter between Iranian and US forces since the brief but brutal 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June.

According to Iranian state TV, the Fitzgerald made “a provocative move” by attempting to approach waters “under Iran’s monitoring.”

In the footage, an Iranian helicopter is seen buzzing near the US warship. A voice from the chopper — in English — can be heard warning the destroyer to alter course as it approached Iranian territorial waters around 10 a.m. local time.

Iranian media described the exchange as “tense,” claiming the US destroyer responded by threatening to target the Iranian aircraft if it didn’t back off. After repeated warnings from Iranian forces, the Fitzgerald reportedly left the area.The Pentagon, however, painted a far calmer picture.

US Central Command described the episode as a “safe and professional interaction.”

A US defense official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, insisted the entire incident happened in international waters and dismissed Iran’s version of events as “falsehoods and attempts by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to spread misinformation.”

The official identified the Iranian aircraft involved as a “Sea King” SH-3 helicopter, and doubled down:

“This interaction had no impact to USS Fitzgerald’s mission.”

This encounter comes on the heels of the US’s direct involvement in last month’s conflict between Israel and Iran. The US military launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during the conflict — a rare move.

President Donald Trump, ever ready with superlatives, called the operation a “spectacular” success that “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.

However, US media outlets citing intelligence sources suggest a different story: only one of three nuclear facilities, the Fordow site, was reportedly destroyed. The rest — not so much.

In a Wednesday broadcast, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made it clear his government isn’t backing down. He reiterated that Iran’s nuclear program is strictly for “peaceful purposes,” but warned Tehran is ready for another war if Israel dares to push the button again.

As for the current ceasefire between the two foes? Pezeshkian didn’t sound too hopeful.

With input from Al Jazeera