(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-12 09:56

WASHINGTON -- A small US navy ship fired a warning flare during a confrontation Thursday night with three small Iranian boats in the Persian Gulf, the Pentagon said Friday.

The small US patrol craft called Typhoon, was approached by the Iranian boats in a "taunting manner," according to a Pentagon statement.

US navy officers conducted bridge-to-bridge communications with the Iranian boats and two then turned away.

But one came within 180 meters of the Typhoon, prompting it to fire a warning flare. The Iranian boat then turned away.

The confrontation is not considered serious, the Pentagon said.