A tense maritime encounter unfolded on Wednesday as an Iranian military helicopter confronted a United States Navy destroyer, USS Fitzgerald, near Iran’s territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, according to Iranian state media. While Iranian sources termed the incident “provocative,” the US military described the engagement as “professional” and said it had no impact on their operations.
Footage aired by Iranian state television shows a military helicopter flying close to the USS Fitzgerald, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, while an Iranian officer issues a warning in English over radio, ordering the warship to alter its course as it neared Iranian-monitored waters around 10am local time (06:00 GMT).
Iranian officials claimed the US vessel attempted to approach sensitive waters deliberately, prompting the launch of a rapid response helicopter. They also alleged that the US warship responded by warning it would engage the aircraft if it did not back away. Iranian sources said the Fitzgerald eventually changed course after repeated warnings.
This marks the first direct confrontation between Iranian and American forces since the Iran-Israel conflict that erupted in June. The Iranian government has repeatedly warned against what it calls foreign provocation in regional waters.
The US Navy, while acknowledging the interaction, stated it was handled in a “professional manner” and did not interfere with ongoing naval missions. No further escalation was reported, and both sides have since returned to their standard patrol patterns.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following Iran’s announcement that it will continue advancing its nuclear program despite mounting international pressure.
