U.S. Says Iranian Gunboats Harassed Warships (Jim Miklaszewski)

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Officials describe incident as a 'significant provocative act'

By Jim Miklaszewski -- NBC News

Jan. 8, 2008 -- WASHINGTON -- Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats harassed three U.S. Navy warships in the Strait of Hormuz Sunday, in what the U.S. military officials described as a 'significant provocative act.'

Military officials told NBC News Monday that two U.S. Navy destroyers and one frigate were heading into the Persian Gulf through the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz when five armed 'fast boats' of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard approached a high speed, darting in and out of the formation.

At one point a radio message from one of the Iranian boats warned, 'You are going to blow up within minutes.'
The Navy warships went into defensive mode, radioed the usual warnings to steer clear, and in the end no shots were fired. U.S. military warships believe the Revolutionary Guard boats were 'testing our defenses,' the officials said.