WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Small surface vessels from the Iranian Navy closely shadowed the warship carrying US Central Command (CENTCOM) head Gen. Joseph Votel cruising in the Persian Gulf, according to a media report on Monday.
"Gen. Joseph Votel was on board the USS [United States Ship] New Orleans in the Gulf when four Iranian ships came within about 500 yards of the US ship," CNN reported.
The close encounter was called safe and routine and the Iranians were likely unaware Votel was a passenger, the report noted.
The Persian Gulf is one of the busiest bodies of water in the world with oil tankers, cargo ships and military vessels from many nations entering and exiting through the narrow Straits of Hormuz.
