Log Cabin Democrat: Iran accuses U.S. aircraft, battleship of spy action

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran accused a U.S. destroyer and a reconnaissance plane today of spying on Iranian military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf, and warned them to leave the area. The Navy denied the charge, saying the ship hadn't even left port.

The USS Kincaid and an S-3 reconnaissance plane withdrew today from the vicinity of the Iranian war games after the warnings, senior Iranian naval officers said, speaking on condition anonymity.

But a spokesman for the Navy's 5th Fleet, which is headquartered in Bahrain, said he had ''no indication that either incident occurred.''

''The Kincaid has been in port in Bahrain since Monday afternoon,'' said Cmdr. Gordon Hume.

The Kincaid is a member of the seven-ship battle group that arrived in the Persian Gulf on Sunday. The S-3 is one of 75 aircraft operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which heads the battle group.

Tensions in the region have been high since Tehran's Sept. 29 air raids against two Iranian opposition bases inside Iraq. The raids violated a ''no-fly'' zone patrolled by the United States and its allies. Iraq scrambled two fighters to pursue the Iranian warplanes, further violating the zone.

In response, Washington ordered the Nimitz to skip a port call in Singapore and speed to the region two weeks ahead of schedule.

The Iranian exercises cover an area of 15,000 square miles and involve more than 100 vessels.

On Monday, a Tehran newspaper warned that an accidental collision in the Persian Gulf could spark a confrontation between the United States and Iran.

''Iranian naval exercises are covering a wide area in the Persian Gulf where the U.S. spy ships are crowding the waterway and increasing the risk of collisions,'' the Iran News said.

Tuesday, October 14, 1997Iran accuses U.S. aircraft, battleship of spy action

Last modified at 11:59 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 1997

By AFSHIN VALINEJAD

Associated Press Writer