U.S. ship goes through Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln passed through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping lane Iran threatened to close, on Tuesday, officials said.

An Iranian patrol boat at one point passed within 2 miles of the carrier, which was protected by a U.S. cruiser and a destroyer, the BBC reported.

Iranian officials recently threatened to close the channel, through which 20 percent of the world's oil exports moves, in retaliation for more recently enacted sanctions against the Islamic republic over its nuclear program.

Western leaders say they fear Tehran's nuclear activities are aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains its program is for peaceful purposes.

It was the second pass through the Strait in recent weeks by the Abraham Lincoln, officials said.