WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The US Central Command has warned of a "miscalculation" that could lead to acts of aggression against US ships or their allies operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, as regional tensions raise fears of a confrontation with Iran.
A statement issued by the US Central Command issued earlier on Thursday that ships have reported interference in their positioning systems, and interference in their maritime communications.
The warning in the Central Command statement follows a similar warning by the US Maritime Administration that communications and positioning systems in commercial ships in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman could be disrupted.
The US Naval Administration said in a statement that ships reported interference in communications from those who falsely claim to be an ally of the United States.
It added that at least two ships had interfered with their positioning systems in recent incidents in the region.
The US Department of Aeronautics also pointed to the failure of the automatic identification system in one of these ships before being detained by Iran, according to the statement.
The US warnings come at a time when Washington is seeking to form an international alliance to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, after the incidents of several foreign ships, including the detention of Iran a British oil tanker.
Tehran and Washington have repeatedly said they are not seeking war, but there are fears that wrong moves could trigger a military confrontation, especially in the Strait of Hormuz, where the Americans and British plan to strengthen their navies to protect energy supplies.