Middle East
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade. File photo: ISNA
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior Iranian military official warned on Monday that Tehran would target US forces if they attempt to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after Washington announced plans to escort vessels through the strategic waterway.
“We warn every foreign armed force, particularly the invading American army, that should they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz, they will be subjected to attack,” Major General Ali Abdollahi of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB.
Abdollahi added that Iran has “repeatedly announced that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is under the control of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” stressing that any safe passage through the waterway must be coordinated with Iranian forces.
The warning came after US President Donald Trump announced that American forces would begin escorting commercial ships through the Strait starting Monday, following its reported closure.
“The US and its allies must understand that the resilient nation of Iran and its ready and powerful armed forces have demonstrated in practice that they will respond decisively and harshly to any threat or aggression,” Abdollahi said.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade, in addition to significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer products, making it one of the most critical chokepoints in the global economy. The waterway was reportedly closed after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale air campaign against Iran on February 28, targeting more than 17,000 sites over six weeks of hostilities.
Meanwhile, a tanker was struck by unidentified projectiles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, a British maritime agency reported on Monday.
“A tanker has reported being hit by unknown projectiles,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, adding that all crew members were safe.
The incident occurred approximately 78 nautical miles north of the UAE city of Fujairah, according to the agency.
The renewed escalation came after the United States confirmed the launch of Project Freedom, a major maritime operation aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the Strait.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces would begin supporting “Project Freedom” under presidential direction to ensure “freedom of navigation for commercial shipping” through the waterway.
The operation will involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and around 15,000 service members, CENTCOM said.
As of April 29, more than 900 commercial vessels remained in the Gulf, according to maritime intelligence firm AXSMarine, down from over 1,100 at the start of the conflict.
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