Audio & video of US and Iran boat confrontation released

The purported confrontation in the Persian Gulf between US Navy warships and several small Iranian boats has been sparking controversy.

On Tuesday, the US Navy released video of small Iranian boats allegedly taunting US Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. officials say the Iranian boats aggressively approached three U.S. Navy vessels, warning that the ships would explode.

US military officials say the audio recording combines both threats and radio transmissions from the Iranians, as well as US Navy transmissions. In the recording, a voice speaking in heavily-accented English threatens that the American vessels are going to explode. The audio and video recordings were made separately. But they were joined together by the Navy.

Iranian boat: "I am coming to you."

US Navy: "...small craft. You are approaching a coalition warship operating in international waters.

Your identity is not known,

your identity is unclear.

You are straying into danger

and may be subject to...

You must establish communications now

or I'll be forced immediately to remain clear.

Request you alter course immediately

to remain clear."

Iranian fleet: "You will explode after...minutes."

US Navy: "We will explode after two minutes?"

The incident was videotaped by a crew member on the bridge of the destroyer USS Hopper on Sunday.

On Tuesday, US President George W. Bush described the naval encounter with the Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz as a provocative act.

But in Tehran, Iran's Foreign Ministry has suggested the Iranian boats did not recognize the US vessels. It also says that every now and then -- it is normal for similar incidents to take place on both sides.