(Tehran) Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:47:05

The US Navy claims it possesses video and audio recordings of Iranian high-speed boats threatening a US convoy in the Strait of Hormuz.

"There is video. We are using it as part of our assessment," said US Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, the top navy commander in the Mideast.

"[The assessment] will be made available in due course, as well as the audio," The Associated Press quoted Vice Admiral Cosgriff as saying on Tuesday.

The Pentagon has alleged that five small Iranian boats repeatedly 'charged' three US warships - Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Port Royal, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Hopper and frigate USS Ingraham.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has dismissed the allegations, affirming that the incident was 'an ordinary issue' in which boats belonging to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) called on the US convoy to confirm its identity.

The White House, however, has rejected Iran's assertion, claiming the incident was 'out of the ordinary'.

Political pundits believe the White House is scheming to exaggerate the incident in order to drum up support for imposing more pressure on Tehran during President Bush's Mideast trip.

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=37989§ionid=351020101


Missile Cruiser USS Port Royal