The Iranian Navy said it had prevented “American-Zionist” warships from entering the Strait of Hormuz after issuing a “swift and decisive warning”.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency later reported that two missiles had hit the warship near the port of Jask, at the southern entrance to the strait, where Iran’s navy has a base. A senior US official immediately denied the report, according to Axios journalist Barak Ravid.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the reports.
Iran Responds to Trump
Iran had warned US forces on Monday not to enter the strategic waterway after President Donald Trump said the United States would “guide out” ships stranded in the Gulf by the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Trump gave few details of the plan to aid ships and crews that have been confined to the vital route and are running low on food and other supplies more than two months into the conflict.
“We have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business”, Trump wrote on Truth Social.
In response, Iran’s unified command told commercial ships and oil tankers to refrain from any movement not coordinated with the Iranian 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 the statement.
“We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US Army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz.”
US Rescue Plan
Since the start of the war, Iran has blocked nearly all shipping into and out of the Gulf apart from its own vessels. The blockade has cut off about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments and sent prices soaring by 50% or more.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which is blockading Iranian ports to put pressure on Tehran, said it would support the rescue effort with 15,000 military personnel and more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, as well as warships and drones.
“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade”, CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement.
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