The US Navy has been instructed to "shoot down and destroy" Iranian gunboats if they harass its ships, US President Donald Trump said.
Mr Trump's order followed a US accusation last week that Iranian fast vessels were "harassing" US Navy ships in the Arabian Gulf.
The US Fifth Fleet tweeted on April 16 that 11 Iranian vessels had “repeatedly conducted dangerous and harassing approaches", but there were no casualties.
"I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday afternoon.
Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday admitted an encounter with US warships, but claimed without evidence that US forces initiated the incident.
"We advise the Americans to follow international regulations and maritime protocols in the Gulf and to refrain from any adventurism and false and fake stories," the IRGC said on April 19.
"They should be assured that the Revolutionary Guards navy and the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran see the dangerous actions of foreigners in the region as a threat to national security and its red line, and any error in calculation on their part will receive a decisive response."
Lt Pete Pagano, a spokesman for the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain, said the Navy stood by its earlier description of the incident.
The US Navy released video and photographs of the incident showing small Iranian fast boats coming close to American warships in the northern Arabian Gulf near Kuwait.
Speaking to The National, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeated the accusations, saying the US was committed to deterrence in the region.
“Make no mistake about it, the actions that the United States has taken over the last many months have been designed to provide deterrent effect,” he said.
Mr Pompeo said that commitment was shown in the multinational navy task force in Gulf waters to track and protect commercial shipping, and increased military standing in Saudi Arabia.
He said it was also displayed in efforts to bring peace and stability to Yemen, block missile shipments from Iran to the country, and counter Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
“The US is committed to deter Iranian behaviour across the Middle East,” he said.
US Navy ships have been known to fire warning shots at Iranian vessels, an action they took during a spate of close passes by Iranian boats in 2016 and 2017.
While the navy has the authority to act in self-defence, Mr Trump's comments appeared to go further and are likely to stoke tension.
Relations are still tense after the killing of Iranian Quds Force general Qassem Suleimani by a US drone strike in Iraq on January 3.
Iran retaliated on January 8 with a rocket attack on Iraq’s Ain Al Asad base where US forces were stationed.
Mr Trump later retweeted a claim by another Twitter user that the Iranians used harassment of ships as a propaganda tactic.
Referring to his Presidential election rival Joe Biden, who served as vice president under Mr Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, he tweeted: "Sleepy Joe thought this was OK. Not me."
The Iranian state news agency Fars tweeted a still from a 2016 video showing 10 US Navy personnel briefly taken into custody by Iranian authorities.
The announcement of Mr Trump's order came hours after Iran announced a successful satellite launch after four failed attempts in the last year.
The US says the satellite programme a cover for Tehran's ballistic missile development.
Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abu Dhabi racecard
5pm: Maiden (Purebred Arabians); Dh80,000; 1,400m.
5.30pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,00; 1,400m.
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA); Group 3; Dh500,000; 1,600m.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Thoroughbred); Listed; Dh380,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA); Dh70,000; 1,400m.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
MATCH INFO
Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
Wonka
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Paul%20King%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ETimothee%20Chalamet%2C%20Olivia%20Colman%2C%20Hugh%20Grant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULT
Manchester United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Man United: Sanchez (24' ), Herrera (62')
Spurs: Alli (11')
