Iran’s navy fired “warning shots” at U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz, state media said, after the American military sent battle ships into the Gulf as part of a plan to help trapped commercial vessels leave.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had announced a plan to guide ships from neutral countries out of the Gulf, saying it was a humanitarian effort to help their stranded crews.
“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these (non-combatant) Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways,” Trump posted on Truth Social, saying operations would begin on Monday.
Once the ships are out, “they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation,” Trump added.
In response to Trump, the Iranian military’s central command said any safe passage through Hormuz must be coordinated with its forces under all circumstances.
U.S. media reported that the U.S. Navy would not escort vessels through the strait but would provide guidance on traversing the narrow seaway. News site Axios said U.S. ships would be “in the vicinity” to prevent Iranian attacks on commercial vessels.
On Monday afternoon, CENTCOM said “guided-missile destroyers are currently operating” in the Gulf, having transited Hormuz. It added that, as a first step in Project Freedom, that two “U.S.-flagged merchant vessels” had travelled out of the Gulf.
Iranian state media then reported that “following the Zionist American destroyers’ disregard for the initial warning, the Navy issued a warning shot by firing cruise missiles, rockets, and combat drones around the aggressor enemy vessels.”
