Iran's military announced on Monday that it had prevented US Navy vessels from entering the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments. The claim came just hours after President Donald Trump declared that American naval forces would begin guiding stranded ships through the waterway as part of what he called 'Project Freedom.'
A brief statement carried by Iran's state-run Tasnim News Agency said further details would be released later. Separately, the IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency reported that a US Navy frigate had been targeted by two missiles near the port of Jask, alleging it had violated navigation rules and ignored warnings from the Iranian navy. The report did not cite a source.
The US Central Command swiftly denied that any American ships had been struck. 'No US Navy ships have been hit. US forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports,' it said in a post on X.
UAE Condemns Drone Attack on Tanker
The United Arab Emirates reported that Iran had fired two drones at a tanker affiliated with its state oil company ADNOC in the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE foreign ministry condemned the attack, calling it 'a flagrant violation' of UN Security Council Resolution 2817. 'Targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail represents acts of piracy by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps,' the ministry said, adding that no injuries were reported.
The incident threatens to unravel the fragile ceasefire that has held for more than three weeks. Trump's announcement on Sunday that the US would 'guide' ships out of the strait and his warning that Iranian efforts to block them 'will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully' have raised the stakes. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency dismissed the proposal as part of Trump's 'delirium.'
Major General Pilot Ali Abdollahi told state broadcaster IRIB: 'We warn that any foreign military force, especially the aggressive US military, that intends to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted.'
The Joint Maritime Information Centre said the US has established an 'enhanced security area' near the Omani side of the strait and urged mariners to coordinate with Omani authorities due to anticipated high traffic. It warned that passing close to the usual traffic separation scheme 'should be considered extremely hazardous due the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated.'
The standoff has immediate implications for European energy security. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital conduit for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments to European ports, and any disruption could push prices higher. For context, see our analysis on Oil Prices Dip as Trump Announces Plan to Clear Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, shipping companies are already adjusting routes; MSC Launches New Europe-Red Sea Service to Bypass Strait of Hormuz.
The broader geopolitical context includes ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear program and its regional influence. The US has also proposed a maritime coalition to secure the waterway, as detailed in US Proposes Maritime Coalition to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Iran Standoff. For European readers, the crisis underscores the continent's vulnerability to disruptions in Middle Eastern energy routes and the need for diversified supply chains.
