Press TV- Iran�has dismissed a�recent accusation by US Navy that an Iranian patrol boat had shined laser at an American helicopter flying over the Strait of Hormuz.�

Back in June, US Navy Commander Bill Urban claimed that the Iranian vessel recently turned its spotlight on two American ships, the USS�Cole and USS Bataan, which were moving through the strait.

The Iranian boat, he claimed, later shined laser at the US Marine CH-53E Super Stallion�helicopter that responded by automatically firing flares at the Iranian vessel, adding the incident left no casualties and damage.

Urban further described the alleged face-off as an unsafe encounter and stressed that "illuminating helicopters with lasers at night is dangerous as it creates a navigational hazard that can impair vision and can be disorienting to pilots using night vision goggles."

The commander of Iran's First Naval Zone, Rear Admiral Hossein Azad, responded to Urban�s claims�on Sunday.

�Recently, the US Navy has claimed that Iranian Navy had shined laser at a helicopter of the US Fifth Fleet�while it was passing the Strait of Hormuz, an issue the Navy�of�Islamic Republic�of�Iran�Army�strongly denies,� Azad said.

Iranian naval forces�are tasked with guaranteeing security within the country�s maritime borders, where they have been involved in a series of face-offs with US vessels for intrusion into Iranian territorial waters.

In recent years, Iran�s Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers. It has also conducted major drills to enhance its�defense capabilities.