Cargo ship fires shots in Persian Gulf

A U.S.-contracted cargo ship fired warning shots in the Persian Gulf at two small patrol boats believed to be from Iran, U.S. Navy officials said Friday.

The crew of the "Westward Venture," which was under contract to the U.S. government, reported it radioed a warning and fired flares before resorting to warning shots Thursday, the officials said.

The cargo vessel was en route to Kuwait and about 50 miles from the Iranian coast, according the reports.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf have been high this year. The United States and Iran, which have no diplomatic relations and blame each other for problems in Iraq, have had at least two other tense incidents in the gulf since January.

Earlier this month, the U.S. military reported that three small Iranian boats approached a U.S. patrol craft in a "taunting manner." Two of the boats turned away, but one came within 200 yards of the USS Typhoon, prompting a crew member to fire a warning flare.

U.S. Navy: Cargo ship fires shots in Persian Gulf - CNN.com