An Iranian fleet of high-speed boats harassed and threatened a three-ship U.S. Navy convoy in a prime Middle East oil-shipping lane, then scurried away as the American ship commanders prepared to open fire, the area's top U.S. Navy commander said.

No shots were fired in the confrontation Jan. 7. An Iranian official characterized the incident as "something normal."

The incident raised new tensions between Washington and Tehran a day before U.S. President George W. Bush left on his first major trip to the Middle East.

Bush administration officials complained that the Iranian actions amounted to a dangerous provocation.