U.S. Tells Iran of Concern Over Hormuz Missiles

The United States has informed the Iranian government of its “serious concern” over the presence of Chinese-built missiles near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the State Department said Friday.

Spokesman Charles Redman said the warning was conveyed though the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which represents U.S. interests in the absence of diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States.

He called the Silkworm missiles “a potential threat to international shipping” because of their proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, the corridor into the Persian Gulf, the source for much of the world’s oil supply.

“The Iranians have been informed of our serious concern over this new threat posed to the free flow of oil and freedom of navigation. The Iranians are well aware of these U.S. concerns which are shared by many other countries as well,” Redman told reporters.

Raise Danger Level

The radar-guided missiles, the Chinese version of the Soviet-made Styx that have reportedly been stationed by the Iranians along the strait, “raise the level of danger and risk to non-belligerents” in the Iran-Iraq War, Redman said.

Redman, reading a prepared statement, reiterated the U.S. commitment to “free flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz” and support for freedom of navigation in international waters. He expressed concern over Iranian attacks on vessels serving neutral Arab ports in the Persian Gulf.

Redman said the Administration is committed to supporting “the individual and collective self-defense” of the Persian Gulf states but declined to speculate on possible action to counter the presence of the missiles.

A U.S. task force led by the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk is operating in the northern Arabian Sea opposite the Persian Gulf state of Oman. But officials said it has been in the area for more than a month on a routine deployment and its presence has nothing to do with the new Iranian missiles.