The USS Fitzgerald ‘attempted to approach the waters under the supervision’ of Iran, says the state TV. File
Iranian forces confronted a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday (July 23, 2025), warning it to stay out of waters claimed by Tehran, state television reported on Thursday — a month after U.S. strikes on the Islamic republic.
An Iranian army helicopter ew over the USS Fitzgerald at about 10.00 a.m. (0630 GMT) after the vessel “attempted to approach the waters under the supervision” of Iran, the broadcaster said.
The destroyer issued threats of its own, state TV said, adding, however, that “the Iranian pilot firmly continued the mission and reiterated the warning to stay away from Iranian waters”.
Iranian forces then urged the U.S. ship to “alter its course southward”, forcing it to “give in” and turn away.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. Navy. Iranian forces have a history of confronting U.S. forces in bodies of water o the country’s southern coast like the Gulf of Oman. In 2023, Tehran said it forced a U.S. submarine to surface while crossing the strategic Strait of Hormuz — a claim Washington denied.
The latest confrontation comes after U.S. strikes on June 22 targeted Iran’s nuclear sites during a 12-day war with Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the damage was “serious and severe” but insisted uranium enrichment would continue.
Published – July 23, 2025 10:17 pm IST
