SEMI-OFFICIAL Iranian news agency Nour News said Iran's removal of and US drone vessel was an act to 'ensure the safety of shipping lanes'.
Nour News cited an unnamed senior military official as saying that the 'illegal presence' of US forces in the Persian Gulf was a 'source of insecurity' for the region.
Said Nour News: 'In recent weeks, a large number of American USV have been dispatched from Bahrain and outside the protocols related to the use of remotely piloted vessels, to international waters in the Persian Gulf and international shipping lanes, which has caused problems in shipping lines,' it said in a statement.'
The agency said that these vessels have become a source of 'unpredictable maritime accidents', calling the latest incident 'an epic story with a Hollywood format narrative and contrary to the truth'.
The official said the 'trend of unmanned foreign boats' sailing in the Gulf waters had increased recently, creating 'problems for safe shipping' in the region, reported Ankara's Anadolu Agency.
The statement came in response to remarks made by General Michael Kurilla, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to seize a Saildrone Explorer.
'The professionalism and competence of the crew of the USS Thunderbolt prevented iran from taking this illegal action,' he said. 'This incident once again demonstrates Iran's continued destabilising, illegal and unprofessional activity in the Middle East.'
The CENTCOM also said in a statement that sailors from the 5th Fleet had noticed a ship operated by IRGC towing the unmanned Saildrone Explorer.
The Bahrain-based USS Thunderbolt, a patrol ship, and a Sea Hawk helicopter quickly responded to the incident keeping IRGC personnel from seizing the vessel.
It termed the IRGC action as a 'flagrant' and 'unwarranted' attempt to seize the vessel.
SeaNews Turkey
Nour News cited an unnamed senior military official as saying that the 'illegal presence' of US forces in the Persian Gulf was a 'source of insecurity' for the region.
Said Nour News: 'In recent weeks, a large number of American USV have been dispatched from Bahrain and outside the protocols related to the use of remotely piloted vessels, to international waters in the Persian Gulf and international shipping lanes, which has caused problems in shipping lines,' it said in a statement.'
The agency said that these vessels have become a source of 'unpredictable maritime accidents', calling the latest incident 'an epic story with a Hollywood format narrative and contrary to the truth'.
The official said the 'trend of unmanned foreign boats' sailing in the Gulf waters had increased recently, creating 'problems for safe shipping' in the region, reported Ankara's Anadolu Agency.
The statement came in response to remarks made by General Michael Kurilla, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to seize a Saildrone Explorer.
'The professionalism and competence of the crew of the USS Thunderbolt prevented iran from taking this illegal action,' he said. 'This incident once again demonstrates Iran's continued destabilising, illegal and unprofessional activity in the Middle East.'
The CENTCOM also said in a statement that sailors from the 5th Fleet had noticed a ship operated by IRGC towing the unmanned Saildrone Explorer.
The Bahrain-based USS Thunderbolt, a patrol ship, and a Sea Hawk helicopter quickly responded to the incident keeping IRGC personnel from seizing the vessel.
It termed the IRGC action as a 'flagrant' and 'unwarranted' attempt to seize the vessel.
SeaNews Turkey
