Officials giving mixed messages on why US aircraft carrier shadowing Iranian convoy

An American aircraft carrier and its warplanes are shadowing an Iranian convoy approaching Yemen, as the U.S. beefs up its presence in the region — but back in Washington, officials can’t seem to agree on why.

 

Pentagon sources confirmed to Fox News that the USS Theodore Roosevelt is tracking the Iranian convoy, and also launching F/A-18 Hornets to conduct “manned reconnaissance” of the estimated nine Iranian ships.

 

Those ships are suspected of carrying weapons to rebel fighters in Yemen.

 

But State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf insisted Tuesday that the U.S. ships were “only” there to “ensure the shipping lanes remain open and safe” — and “not to do anything in terms of those Iranian ships.”

 

She blasted “misreporting” that asserted U.S. ships were prepared to intercept Iranian vessels.

 

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