Iranian boats harassed United States military vessels in the Straits of Hormuz on Sunday, US officials said Monday.  Five small Iranian boats reportedly charged three US Navy ships and dropped objects in the water, forcing the US ships to take evasive maneuvers.  In addition, the Iranian crews reportedly threatened the navy ships, saying they would blow them up.

A US official said the incident ended abruptly when the Iranian ships fled “literally at the very moment that US forces were preparing to open fire.”  The incident was the most serious provocation to take place in the area to date, he said.