US President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed US Navy to ‘shoot down and destroy’ all Iranian gunboats if they harass American ships at sea.
“I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea,” Trump said via Twitter.
I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2020
Trump’s remark comes a week after the US Navy accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) of making “dangerous and harassing approaches” against US naval ships operating in international waters of the North Arabian Gulf. However, Iran rejected the accusation.
ALSO READ: COVID-19 | From additional bailout to an immigration ban, here’s how US is fighting the virus
“11 Iranian #IRGCN vessels repeatedly conducted dangerous & harassing approaches against U.S. naval ships operating in international waters of the North Arabian Gulf. US crews took actions deemed appropriate to avoid a collision,” the US Navy had tweeted on April 16.
Initial assessments indicate #IRGCN vessels’ closest points of approach were 50 yards from #USSLewisBPuller & 10 yards from @USCG #Maui. There were no injuries during the interaction. pic.twitter.com/AYzEXHZPZZ
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) April 15, 2020
On Sunday, IRGC said in a statement that the US Navy “has presented an incorrect and agenda-fuelled narrative of this encounter” and labelled the US account as a “Hollywood tale”.
Though unrelated, Trump’s tweet followed launch of first military satellite by Iran.
(With ANI inputs)