The US Central Command refuted Iranian reports that an American warship was hit in the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions in the region.
Iran Warns US
Iranian armed forces warned the US Navy against entering the Strait of Hormuz, following President Trump’s announcement of assistance to commercial ships transiting the waterway.
Ali Abdollahi, chief of Iran’s armed forces general staff, stated any aggressive forces attempting to approach the Strait would be attacked.
Iranian Claims of Blocking US Vessels
Tehran’s state television reported that the Iranian navy prevented US ships from entering the Strait of Hormuz, successfully blocking “American and Zionist destroyers.”
US Rejects Iranian Account
CENTCOM stated via X (formerly Twitter) that no American ship was struck. This contradicts earlier reports from Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, citing local sources, that a US vessel ignored warnings and was subsequently fired upon and turned back.
“Project Freedom” Launched
The US Central Command announced that two American-flagged commercial vessels safely transited the Strait of Hormuz as part of “Operation Freedom.”
The operation aims to coordinate ship movements with ship owners and insurers, supported by US forces, to ensure safe passage.
Strait of Hormuz Blockade and Reduced Traffic
The Strait of Hormuz, crucial for oil transport, has been nearly blocked by Iran since the start of the US and Israeli conflict with Yemen in late February.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence data indicates a significant drop in traffic, from around 3,000 ships per month before February 28th to approximately 150 units following the conflict’s outbreak.
Al Jazeera reports over 22 vessels have been targeted, with around 2,000 ships carrying over 20,000 people stranded in the Persian Gulf.
