Iranian boats fire shots at Singapore-flagged vessel in Gulf

An Iranian naval patrol boat fired on a Singapore-flagged commercial ship in the Persian Gulf on Thursday in an apparent attempt to disable it over a financial dispute over damage to an Iranian oil platform, a U.S. official said. The Iranians initially fired warning shots Thursday after the MT Alpine Eternity refused to move into Iranian waters. After the warning shots were fired the ship began heading toward territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates, and the Iranians then opened up with machine gun fire, according to the U.S. official. The official said early reports indicated no one aboard the ship was injured. In response to a call for help from the Alpine Eternity, the UAE coast guard responded and the Iranian patrol vessels left the area.

We’re certainly concerned about anything that interferes with freedom of navigation in international waters and the free flow of commerce.

State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said, noting that no Americans or U.S. ships were involved

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