Saying it was done to “ensure the safety of shipping lanes,” a news agency affiliated with Iran’s top security body has reacted to a US claim that Iranian forces attempted to seize an unmanned US vessel in the Persian Gulf.
A news agency cited an unnamed senior military official saying that the “illegal presence” of US forces in the Persian Gulf was a “source of insecurity” for the region, in a statement on Wednesday.
The official said, creating “problems for safe shipping” in the region, the “trend of unmanned foreign boats” sailing in the Gulf waters had increased recently.
The statement came in response to remarks made by Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempting to seize a Saildrone Explorer.
He stated, “The professionalism and competence of the crew of the USS Thunderbolt prevented Iran from this illegal action.” He added, “This incident once again demonstrates Iran’s continued destabilizing, illegal, and unprofessional activity in the Middle East.”
