The USS Mahan (pictured here in a past photo). Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – A US Navy destroyer fired three warning shots at four Iranian fast-attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to two American defense officials.

The incident occurred when the USS Mahan attempted to establish radio contact with five Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ships, and when the Iranian vessels did not respond to requests to slow down, A US Navy helicopter dropped a smoke float and then the US ship fired three warning shots at the vessels, Reuters reported.

The Iranian boats came within 900 yards of the Navy vessels.

This incident is the latest in a number of tense encounters between the two countries in and over Iranian waters.