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The U.S. Navy fired warning shots at Iranian military boats in the northern Persian Gulf on Monday, the first such escalation in nearly four years, Politico reported, citing the Pentagon.

The incident marks the second known occurrence this month of Iranian vessels harassing U.S. ships, after a group of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fast-attack craft swarmed two U.S. Coast Guard cutters at close distances in the Persian Gulf on April 2, the Wall Street Journal first reported.

Around 8 p.m. on Monday, three armed IRGCN speed boats rapidly approached the coastal patrol boat USS Firebolt and the Coast Guard cutter Baranof to an "unnecessarily close range with unknown intent, coming as close as 68 yards of the ships," the Navy said.

The U.S. vessels were conducting routine operations in international waters at the time of the incident, the Navy said.

The U.S. crews issued multiple warnings to the IRGCN boats over the radio and other devices, but the vessels continued their maneuvers, the Navy said. The crew of the Firebolt then fired warning shots, and the Iranian vessels moved away.

This is the first time the U.S. Navy has fired on Iranian vessels in nearly four years.

"The IRGCN’s actions increased the risk of miscalculation and/or collision," and "were not in accordance" with international rules governing sea operations, the Navy said.

"U.S. naval forces continue to remain vigilant and are trained to act in a professional manner, while our commanding officers retain the inherent right to act in self-defense," the Navy said.