Iran says its navy forced US submarine to surface as it entered the Gulf

Iran's navy forced a US submarine to surface as it entered the Gulf, Iranian navy commander Shahram Irani told state television on Thursday, in the latest report of an apparent confrontation between Iranian and US forces in the Gulf.

"The US submarine was approaching while submerged, but the Iranian submarine Fateh detected it and carried out... manoeuvres to force it to surface as it went through the Strait (of Hormuz). It had also entered into our territorial waters but ... it corrected its course after being warned," Irani said.

#Iran Navy commander: US #nuclear submarine Florida was passing through Strait of Hormuz, aiming not to be detected. Iran's Fateh #submarine detected it & forced it to travel in the surface. It had entered our territorial waters to some extent, but changed course after warning. pic.twitter.com/Dj2XpX75zg

— Abas Aslani (@AbasAslani) April 20, 2023

"This submarine was doing its best, using all its capacities, to pass in total silence and without being detected," Irani said. "We will certainly reflect to international bodies the fact that it had violated our border."

The US Navy said earlier this month the nuclear-powered, guided-missile submarine Florida was operating in the Middle East in support of its Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain.

There was no immediate comment from the US military to Irani's remarks. Reuters sent a message seeking comment from the Fifth Fleet.

Iranian and US forces have had a number of confrontations in the past. In early April, the Iranian navy said it identified and warned off a US reconnaissance plane outside the mouth of the Gulf. In 2019, Iran shot down a US drone which it said was flying over southern Iran.

(Reuters)