Warning shots fired by U.S.-contracted cargo ship in Persian Gulf

WASHINGTON (CNN) - A cargo ship under contract to the U.S. government fired warning shots Thursday in the Persian Gulf to warn away two small patrols boats believed to be from Iran, U.S. Navy officials told CNN Friday.

The cargo ship, the motor vessel Westward Venture, reported that it radioed a warning and fired flares before resorting to warning shots, the officials said. The cargo vessel, en route to Kuwait, was about 50 miles from the Iranian coast, according the reports.

In Iran, "an informed source" denied the news report, said Iran's state-run news agency, IRNA. The source, whom the news agency did not identify, said, "Nothing has happened between the Persian Gulf-based Iranian vessels and American ships," according to IRNA.

–From Jamie McIntyre, CNN Senior Pentagon Correspondent