This handout from the U.S. Navy shows the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman Dec. 9, 2012 in the Atalntic Ocean.(Photo: Getty Images/Cristina Young, U.S. Navy)
The United States on Wednesday accused Iran of carrying out<span style="color: Red;">*</span>rocket tests near American warships and commercial traffic in<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the Strait of Hormuz last week.
The accusation raises new tensions between the two nations following a landmark nuclear deal to limit<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Iran's enrichment of uranium in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
Cmdr. Kyle Raines, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said in a statement that Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval vessels fired "several unguided rockets" about 1,500 yards from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, the USS Bulkeley destroyer and the FS Provence,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a French frigate, on Saturday.
He<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said commercial sea traffic<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was nearby at the time.
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Much of the oil from states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait passes through the narrow strait, which runs between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world.
The route<span style="color: Red;">*</span>is also crucial for ships taking part in the fight<span style="color: Red;">*</span>against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
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Raines said the Iranian vessels announced over maritime radio that they would<span style="color: Red;">*</span>carry out a live fire exercise<span style="color: Red;">*</span>23 minutes beforehand.
He said that<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Iran's "actions were highly provocative," and added:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"Firing weapons so close to passing coalition ships and commercial traffic within an internationally recognized maritime traffic lane is unsafe, unprofessional and inconsistent with international maritime law."
Iranian officials didn't immediately discuss the incidents Wednesday.
Since<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the nuclear deal was agreed between United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany and Iran, the Islamic Republic<span style="color: Red;">*</span>has carried out<span style="color: Red;">*</span>missile tests criticized by the U.S., and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>aired footage on state television of an underground missile base.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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