Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fired warning shots over Singapore-flagged cargo vessel in international waters in the Gulf today, prompting the cargo vessel to flee into United Arab Emirates' territorial waters, a U.S. official told Reuters, saying the account was based on preliminary information.

The United Arab Emirates sent Coast Guard vessels toward the cargo ship and at some point the Iranian ships turned away, the official said.

Later, an American officials said Iran appeared to be trying to intercept the Singapore-flagged ship in order to settle a legal dispute. The Alpine Eternity reportedly hit an Iranian-owned oil platform in March.

"Iran claims that the vessel is liable for damages to the oil platform," the official told Reuters, saying that incident took place on March 22. 

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