 Washington (CNN) A U.S.-flagged ship was recently intercepted by an Iran Revolutionary Guard naval patrol, the U.S. Navy revealed to CNN Tuesday. The episode came ahead of an encounter Tuesday in which Iran Revolutionary Guard patrol boats fired shots at a commercial cargo ship and then intercepted the vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged M/V Maersk Tigris, which was also crossing the Strait of Hormuz. But the Pentagon spokesman said there were no U.S. citizens on board the ship. Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television earlier said an Iranian force fired on and seized a U.S. cargo ship with 34 U.S. sailors on board, and directed it to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. Spokesman Cor Radings confirmed to Danish TV2 news channel that Iranian forces fired warning shots at the container ship and boarded it, and said the company was concerned for the crew. After the shots were fired, the Tigris issued a distress call that was picked up by U.S. forces in the area, and the USS Farragut was ordered to head towards the incident. The closest U.S. warship was more than 60 miles away, he said, and the U.S. military instructed destroyer USS Farragut to head towards the cargo ship, which was passing through the Strait of Hormuz at the time. The M/V Maersk Tigris was seized at the request of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization, Iran's semi-official news agency FARS is reporting, citing informed sources.
– Iran is rattling sabres in the Strait of Hormuz today: Iranian warships have boarded a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship—after firing warning shots, reports Reuters—and ordered it to "divert further into Iranian waters," adds CNN, quoting a US official. The M/V Maersk Tigris was reportedly on a recognized maritime route when the Iranians approached, and the shipmaster "initially declined" the order; the warning shots proved persuasive and the Tigris issued a distress call. The USS Farragut is responding along with aircraft, reports CNN; the closest American warship was 60 miles away. There are no American citizens aboard the Tigris.