US Navy fires warning flare as Iranian speedboat approaches

The incident Monday involving the patrol ship USS Sirocco comes amid tensions as Western powers and the Islamic republic seek to salvage their tattered 2015 nuclear deal.

"Three vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy interacted in an unsafe and unprofessional manner as US Navy ships transited the Strait of Hormuz," said the US Navy statement.

"One of the vessels approached Sirocco head-on at a dangerously high speed and only altered course after the US patrol coastal ship issued audible warning signals to avoid collision.

"The Iranian vessel also came within 50 yards (45 metres) of the US Navy ship during the interaction, and Sirocco responded by deploying a warning flare."

(France 24)