Iranian state media reported a Wednesday encounter between the USS Fitzgerald and Iranian forces in the Gulf of Oman. Footage shows an Iranian helicopter warning the destroyer to alter course, claiming it was approaching Iranian territorial waters. Iranian media described the encounter as tense, stating the destroyer initially threatened to target the helicopter before eventually departing.

The US Central Command countered that the interaction was "safe and professional," with no impact on the ship's mission. A US defense official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, called Iranian reports of tension "falsehoods and attempts...to spread misinformation," claiming the interaction occurred in international waters and identifying the Iranian aircraft as an SH-3 "Sea King" helicopter.

This incident follows a recent 12-day war between Iran and Israel, in which the US military conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's commitment to its nuclear program and expressed pessimism regarding the ceasefire.

Impact Statement: The differing accounts highlight ongoing tensions between Iran and the US in the region.