The Pentagon on Monday denied Iran’s claims that it struck a U.S. warship near the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command rebuked a report from Fars News Agency, which is aligned with the Iranian regime, that claimed a U.S. ship was forced to turn back from passing through the strait. Iran claimed the U.S. naval frigate was hit by two missiles near the port of Jask at the southern entrance to the strait, after ignoring orders to halt.
Recommended Stories
“No U.S. Navy ships have been struck,” U.S. Central Command wrote in a statement to X. “U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”
They later added that two U.S. flagged merchant vessels had safely transited through the strait.
Project Freedom is an initiative that President Donald Trump announced on Sunday afternoon. Trump said the U.S. would help escort stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, starting “Monday morning, Middle East time.” CENTCOM said it would support the action with 15,000 personnel, guided-missile destroyers, and more than 100 aircraft.
Iran’s unified command responded by warning commercial ships and oil tankers that any movement through the waterway must be coordinated with its military.
“We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces,” Ali Abdollahi, head of the forces’ unified command, said in a statement.
CARGO SHIP REPORTS ATTACK NEAR STRAIT OF HORMUZ AFTER LATEST IRAN PEACE PROPOSAL
“We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive U.S. Army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement continued.
In response, the U.S. said that the rules of engagement for U.S. forces in the region have been changed, and they have been authorized to attack immediate threats against ships crossing the strait, such as fast boats of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or Iranian missile positions, according to Axios.
