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IRAN: MILITARY ATTACKS REPLICA US WARSHIP IN SYMBOLIC EXERCISE IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Sardar Alireza Tangsiri said Iranian drones had tracked a number of US vessels in the key

strategic waterway. The Tasnim news agency reported: "Sardar Alireza Tangsiri announced the interception of an American aircraft carrier fleet with IRGC native drones during the

annexation of 188 UAVs and helicopters to the IRGC navy and stated: Two destroyers 114 and 104, battleships 58 and 59, two patrol frigates 9 and 12 and a US Coast Guard 1,333 terrorist

submarine were identified before entering the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf." In such a context, interception refers to the tracking and observation of the ships. > 

Definitely, this is our home and it is US terrorists that are > present in the wrong place >  > IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Sardar Alireza Tangsiri Mr Tangsiri also said US

ships would be tracked in the Straits at all times. Speaking on Sunday, Mr Tangsiri lashed out at the US for deploying ships in the region. He said: "Definitely, this is our home and it

is US terrorists that are present in the wrong place. "We have never started a war and will never do so. Iran claims to have intercepted a US vessel in the Straits of Hormuz (Image:

GETTY) The US 5th Fleet's tweet (Image: GETTY) "But should a war break out, we are definitely not afraid of it." He added: "We always avoid war, but if the enemies want

to threaten and encroach upon our national interests in any part of the country, we will firmly stand up to any such move. said. "I’m telling the enemies not to repeat a mistake."

The IRGC did not name the ship it claims to have tracked - but the US 5th Fleet confirmed on Friday aircraft carrier USS Nimitz had sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on its way to the

Persian Gulf, accompanied by guided-missile cruisers USS Princeton (CG-59) and USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) and guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG-104), the numbers of which were

provided by Mr Tangsiri. READ MORE: FALKLANDS THREAT: CAMPAIGNERS RISK FURY BY NAMING 'SEAT FOR MALVINAS' IRGC Navy Commander Sardar Alireza Tangsiri (Image: NC) RELATED ARTICLES A

tweet stated: "Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), along with USS Princeton (CG 59), USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) & USS Sterett (DDG 104) completed a scheduled transit through the

Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Gulf Sept. 18." Relations between Iran and the United States have worsened significantly in recent years, since US President Donald Trump pulled out of

the JPOCA deal aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, citing repeated violations. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, Iranian President Hassan

Rouhani insisted his country has stayed faithful to the agreement. DON'T MISS IRAN ON THE BRINK: EX-TRUMP AIDE EXPOSES EXACTLY WHY US [INSIGHT] WORLD WAR 3: MISSILE STRIKE KILLS EIGHT

PRO-IRANIAN MILITIA MEMBERS [EXPLAINER]  WORLD WAR 3 OUTBREAK: BBC EXPERT STUNS NEWSNIGHT IN IRAN CRASH CLAIM [ANALYSIS] US President Donald Trump (Image: GETTY) He added: "Life is hard

under sanctions. However, harder, is life without independence. "We are not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy. "Any US administration after the upcoming

elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation." The United States on Monday imposed new sanctions on Iran’s defense ministry and others involved

in its nuclear and weapons program to support the US assertion that all UN sanctions against Tehran are now restored - something key European allies as well as Russia and China reject.

IRAN: EUROPE 'IN FAVOUR OF EXTENDING ARMS EMBARGO' REVEALS EXPERT US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a news conference: "No matter who you are, if you violate the UN arms

embargo on Iran, you risk sanctions." Iran said the new US sanctions, which targeted 27 Iranian entities and people in the nuclear, missile and conventional arms sectors, would have no

effect and accused the United States of seeking publicity. The latest sanctions on the oil-exporting nation include a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump targeting those who

buy or sell Iran conventional arms that was previously reported by Reuters. Strait of Hormuz (Image: GETTY) RELATED ARTICLES The Strait of Hormuz, which is barely 21 miles wide, has been

dubbed one of the most volatile waterways in the Middle East, and is regarded as a dangerous flashpoint. UK ships were told to steer clear of the area last year after the UK-flagged Stena

Impero, which is Swedish-owned but registered in Britain, was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard taken to the port of Bander Abbas. The semi-official Fars news agency claimed it had

been seized for "violating international maritime rules” - but Stena Bulk, which owns the vessel, said the ship was in "full compliance with all navigation and international

regulations".