US denies leaks from nuke-powered submarine

Manama: A US Navy spokesman yesterday rejected Iranian allegations that chemical and radioactive substances have leaked from a US nuclear-powered submarine currently being repaired in Bahrain, and described it as baseless.

"We have been very transparent and open about the incident and we informed the public about it," Lt. Com. Charlie Brown told Gulf News.

"I am aware of the Iranian allegations on the propaganda channel, but I cannot see the motivation behind the false statement. The Newport News was involved in a collision and there was some damage to the bow. But the propulsion plant was intact," he said.

On January 8, the bow of the Newport News ran into the stern of the Japanese oil tanker Mogamigawa which was passing overhead allegedly at high speed in the 34-mile-wide Straits of Hormuz.

No US sailors or merchant crew were injured in the collision, but the US commander was later relieved of his duties because of "a lack of confidence in his ability to command the Los Angeles-class submarine Newport News."

Iranian Navy commander Rear Admiral Sajjad Kuchaki was quoted by Press TV, Iran, on Saturday as saying that chemical and radioactive substances have leaked from the USS Newport News submarine which collided with a Japanese tanker near the Straits of Hormuz "because of the irresponsibility of officials on the American submarine."