US officials said all three carrier strike groups are expected to remain deployed in or near the Middle East for now.

The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was operating in Iraqi territorial waters when it was attacked off Khor Al Zubair port near Basra.

The Chinese oceanographic survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 22 was detected, about 37 nautical miles (69 km) from Uotsuri Island.

The vessel, Anatoly Kolodkin, was allowed to proceed after the United States approved its passage, even though the ship is under sanctions.

In a statement released, the IRGC said the ship, named Express Halfong, was targeted earlier in the day by its naval forces.