Iran's Revolutionary Guards continue to carry out provocative operations in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the last of which was directed at the USS Essex, Friday.
Two Iranian boats were approaching the American ship, military officials and US press reports said.
The Washington Post reported the incident on Friday, confirming that the two boats, which approached approximately 270 meters, belonged to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The commander of the US Central Command, General Joseph Fotel, was the time to board the military vessel, the largest US naval vessel in the Persian Gulf, officials said.
But the leadership said in a statement to the press on Friday: "Today's incident between the forces of the Fifth Fleet and the naval forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard described the safe and professional."
The statement continued: "The US Navy continues its functions in accordance with international law."
The Revolutionary Guard has a history of serious incidents with US ships in the Persian Gulf, which has slowed down recently.
Since January 2016, Gulf waters have witnessed about 50 incidents of "unprofessional" approach by Iranian forces toward US ships, most recently in August 2017 when an Iranian drone flew near an aircraft on board the American aircraft carrier Nimitz.
