US Denies Iran Charge of Deadly Battle With US Navy

Commander says nine soldiers killed in 'direct battle'

US officials are denying the reports, but Iranian officials say that US and Iran troops have engaged in “direct battle” in Iranian territory, with at least nine Iranian soldiers slain.

Alireza Tangsiri, the naval commander of the Iran Revolutionary Guards, reported a number of battles with US forces. He said Iran proved they will defend their sovereignty in the maritime areas.

There are not a lot of specifics beyond the Nov. 3 battle over a tanker, which the US says didn’t happen. There, Iran claimed a US attempt to steal an oil tanker. Iran released video of the confrontation.

There were no reports of death in that incident, though. Tangsiri’s comments suggest more incidents, and more recent ones, though without specific details, there is as yet nothing for the US to deny.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.