A military helicopter and several Navy aircraft from Iran intercepted the US destroyer USS Fitzgerald near Iranian territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, one month after US airstrikes against nuclear facilities such as Fordo.
According to Iranian state television, the Arleigh Burke-class ship of the US Navy was detained at around 10:00 local time while trying to approach Iranian waters. The destroyer, upon spotting the helicopter, urged the aircraft to leave the area.
However, according to the Iranian agencies’ account, despite the threats from its crew, the pilot reiterated his warnings and finally forced the destroyer to change its course to the south.
Is tension rising between the United States and Iran again?
This incident occurs one month after the United States’ attacks on three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, a conflict that erupted after Israel launched a military offensive against the Asian country, which responded by launching hundreds of missiles and drones against Israeli territory.
Donald Trump once again insisted that Tehran’s nuclear program had been destroyed, but this Wednesday Iran’s president, Masud Pezeshkian, deemed the US president’s statements as “delirious,” and assured that authorities are prepared to confront a possible resumption of Israel’s military offensive in case it breaks the ceasefire reached on June 24th.
“Our nuclear capabilities are in the minds of our scientists, not in the facilities,” Pezeshkian stated in an interview with the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera, where he emphasized that Iran will continue enriching uranium “within the framework of international laws,” despite calls from Washington to end these activities.
“Trump says that Iran should not have nuclear weapons and we accept that, as we reject nuclear weapons. It is our political, religious, humanitarian, and strategic position,” said the Iranian president. “We believe in diplomacy, so negotiations should take place with a logic of mutual benefit,” highlighted Pezeshkian.