Iran claims 2 missiles hit US warship near Hormuz; Washington denies
Iran said it fired missiles at a US warship near the Strait of Hormuz and forced it to turn back, while CENTCOM denied any hit. The dispute deepened tensions around the vital shipping lane as Washington pressed ahead with an escort plan for stranded commercial vessels.
Amid a volatile standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran claimed it struck a US warship with missiles near the strategic waterway and forced it to turn back after it allegedly violated the naval blockade. Iranian state-linked outlets said the vessel was hit near the port of Jask at the southern entrance to the strait.
The Iranian navy announced that it had sent a sharp and clear warning to ensure that American-Israeli ships did not enter the zone. However, the United States Central Command rejected the claim. "No US Navy ships have been struck," CENTCOM said in a statement.
IRAN REFUSES TO LOOSEN GRIP ON HORMUZ
The confrontation unfolds against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies. Iran has effectively restricted access to the waterway for most foreign vessels since the conflict began, disrupting global energy flows and pushing prices higher.
Iranian officials have insisted that all maritime traffic must coordinate with their 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," a senior commander said.
They have also threatened that any foreign military presence without authorisation would be a target, increasing the risks associated with US operations in the region. Control of the strait by Iran provides it with the advantage despite being inferior in terms of military capabilities, making it possible for it to create havoc in the international markets.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES ‘PROJECT FREEDOM’ TO HELP STRANDED SHIPS
The disputed incident comes as Donald Trump unveiled a plan to help guide stranded commercial vessels out of the Gulf. The initiative, described as a humanitarian effort, is to assist ships that have been stuck in the region for weeks with dwindling supplies.
"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 said.
The US military has revealed that the new mission, which was ordered by President Donald Trump over the weekend, may include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aeroplanes, and 15,000 personnel, though the type of help it would offer is not clear yet. Ships have been advised by the US-led Joint Maritime Information Center to sail through the strait through Oman’s territorial waters.
Trump also warned that any Iranian interference with the effort would be met with force. "If they misbehave, if they do something bad it’s a possibility that could happen," he said.
The commercial ships continue to be in a dire situation. Hundreds of ships are either stuck or re-directed from the choke point.
The maritime tensions come as diplomatic efforts struggle to gain momentum. US President Donald Trump has poured cold water on Iran’s latest peace proposal, dismissing it as "not acceptable". He turned down Tehran’s 14-point framework.