beirut iranian military vessel confront american warship gulf warn stay away damage iranian fish boat tasnim news agency report sunday u.s. navy deny direct contact iranian force american vessel turn away warn iranian ship belong naval branch iranian army accord tasnim iranian military vessel tow fish boat send distress signal take water back shore agency specify incident close strategic strait hormuz take place statement u.s. naval force central command navcent say coastal patrol uss tempest operate gulf oman sept. hear distress call unidentified small boat 75 nautical miles tempest position time motor vessel nordic voyager much close boat distress offer help make visual contact tempest offer support nordic voyager decline offer navcent say follow radio traffic distance uss tempest hear nordic voyager coordinate additional iranian navy help vessel distress tow back iran time direct contact u.s. iranian maritime force navcent spokesman chloe morgan say tensions rise iranian u.s. military gulf recent months august unarm iranian drone come within 100 feet 31 meter u.s. navy warplane prepare land aircraft carrier gulf u.s. official say time july u.s. navy ship fire warn shots iranian vessel gulf come within 150 yards 137 meter first incident since president donald trump take office january u.s. officials say years mutual animosity ease washington lift sanction tehran last year part deal curb iran nuclear ambition serious differences remain iran ballistic missile program conflict syria iraq trump administration take hard line iran recently declare iran comply nuclear agreement world power warn tehran follow spirit accord washington would look ways strengthen presidential campaign last september trump vow iranian vessels harass u.s. navy gulf would shoot water u.s. deny iran report confrontation u.s. vessel