By DPA
Washington/Jerusalem : US President George W. Bush has sternly warned Iran of “serious consequences” if it attacks US warships in the Gulf.
“We have made it clear publicly and they know our position, and that is, there will be serious consequences if they attack our ships, pure and simple. And my advice to them is don’t do it,” Bush said Wednesday at a press conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Bush’s comments came four days after five small Iranian boats speeded around three US warships in international waters in the Strait of Hormuz before vanishing after the ships were preparing to open fire, an incident that came close to escalating already high tensions between the two countries.
“Iranian boats came out and were very provocative. It was a dangerous gesture on their part,” Bush said.
“All options are on the table to protect our assets,” he said.
Iran has played down the incident, saying it routinely identifies ships passing through the strait and denied the five boats operated by the Revolutionary Guard were provoking the Americans.
The Pentagon Tuesday released a video showing the Iranian speedboats scrambling near and around the much larger and heavily armed US vessels. The tape contained a radio conversation between the US sailors and the Iranians, with a voice warning the US Navy in heavily accented English that “you will explode”.
At one point, one of the five Iranian boats came within less than 200 metres of a destroyer, the USS Hopper, despite requests by an unidentified US officer for the Iranians to identify themselves and warnings they could be fired upon.
“I am coming to you,” the voice said.
“Inbound small craft, you are approaching a coalition warship operating in international waters,” a US sailor replied. “Your identity is not known. Your intentions are unclear.”
The sailor urged the Iranian boats to change their course or be “subject to defensive measures”.
“Request you alter course immediately to remain clear,” the sailor added.
“You will explode after (inaudible) minutes,” the voice replied before the boats vanished.
The Iranian government has denounced the tape as a fake. Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najar called it “pure propaganda”. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack dismissed Mohammad-Najar’s allegations as “ridiculous”.
“Maybe they’re embarrassed by what these individuals do,” McCormack said. “You know, I can’t account for it. But it’s a ridiculous claim.”