TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's state news agency is reporting that Iran's navy will protect an aid ship traveling to Yemen, where a five-day humanitarian cease-fire is set to begin.

The IRNA news agency quoted Admiral Hossein Azad as saying Tuesday the 34th naval group "is present in the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab strait and has been given the specific mission of protecting the humanitarian aid ship."

The naval group includes the destroyer Alborz and logistic ship Bushehr that are on a 90-day anti-piracy patrol there.

In Washington, U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren said the U.S. is monitoring the cargo ship and he warned that it would not be helpful if Iran is "planning some sort of stunt." He said using Iranian warships to accompany the ship was not necessary.

By The Associated Press