Iran warns will attack US forces in Hormuz after Trump announces plan to guide ships
Negotiations between the two countries have been deadlocked since a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran went into effect on April 8; Tehran’s stranglehold on the strait is the main point of contention.
Trump said Sunday that the new U.S. naval operation, which he called “Project Freedom,” was a humanitarian gesture toward the crews of many ships trapped in the Gulf and running low on supplies.
He said the United States would assist ships from countries not involved in the conflict.
Stating that operations will begin on Monday at Truth Social, Trump said, “For the sake of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these countries that we will safely remove their ships from these restricted Waterways.” he said.
Once they go out, “they will not return until the area is safe for navigation,” Trump added. US media reported that the US Navy will not enter the strait but will provide guidance on passing the narrow sea route. The Axios news site said US ships would be “nearby” to prevent Iranian attacks on commercial ships.
Guided missile destroyers, more than 100 land and seaplanes, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members will be used in the effort, CENTCOM said.
According to maritime intelligence firm AXSMarine, there were more than 900 commercial ships in the Gulf as of April 29.
In response to Trump, the Iranian military’s central command said safe passage through Hormuz must be coordinated with Iranian forces “under all circumstances.”
“We warn that any foreign armed force seeking to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted and attacked, especially the aggressive US military,” Major General Ali Abdollahi said in a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB. he said.
Positive discussions
Shortly after Abdullahi’s warning, Fars reported that a US frigate in the strait “was targeted with a missile attack after ignoring the warning of the Iranian navy”, adding that it was hit and had to turn back.
He did not cite any sources or provide further details.
CENTCOM immediately denied the claim, stating in a post on X: “No US Navy ships were hit. US forces support Project Freedom and maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports.”
Earlier on Monday, British maritime agency UKMTO also reported that a tanker was attacked with “unknown projectiles” off the coast of the UAE.
Later in the day, the UAE said Iran opened fire with drones on a tanker affiliated with state oil giant ADNOC.
By closing the strait, Iran cut off the large flow of oil, gas and fertilizer to the world economy, while the USA imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
In his post, Trump said, “I am fully aware that my representatives have had very positive discussions with the country of Iran and that these discussions can lead to very positive results for everyone.”
But he did not directly mention the 14-point plan Tehran put forward last week to end the war.
Speaking on Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran’s “priority is to end the war” but blamed the United States for the lack of progress.
“The other side needs to take a reasonable approach and give up its excessive demands,” he said.
He had previously said Washington had responded to the 14-point plan in a message to Pakistani mediators.
impossible operation
On Sunday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard tried to put the diplomatic onus back on Trump, saying he had to choose between “an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic.”
Oil prices are currently nearly 50 percent above pre-conflict levels, putting economic pressure on countries around the world, including the United States.
Trump declined Sunday to specify what might trigger new U.S. military action.
However, in his post regarding the Hormuz plan, he said, “If this humanitarian process is interfered with in any way, this intervention will unfortunately need to be intervened strongly.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. naval blockade was just one part of a broader economic embargo.
“We are suffocating the regime, and they are not able to pay their soldiers,” he told Fox News. “This is a real economic blockade and it exists everywhere in the government.”
