Defense official disputes Iranian report of encounter with US warship
By Riley Ceder
Jul 24, 2025, 03:30 PM
A U.S. Navy warship had a “safe and professional interaction” with Iranian naval forces on Wednesday, disputing claims in an Iranian state media report, according to a U.S. defense official.
“At 10:50 a.m. [Wednesday], USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) had a safe and professional interaction with an Iranian SH-3 ‘Sea King’ helicopter while operating in international waters,” the defense official said in an emailed statement.
Iranian state TV reported Wednesday that an Iranian navy helicopter confronted a U.S. warship attempting to approach Iranian territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, according to The Associated Press.
The Iranian report said the helicopter flew over the Fitzgerald and warned it to keep its distance. It said the destroyer threatened to target the aircraft if it did not leave the area.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-navy/2025/07/24/defense-official-disputes-iranian-report-of-encounter-with-us-warship/
