US Denies Warship Was Hit as Hormuz Tensions Flare
The Pentagon has flatly rejected claims that an Iranian missile struck one of its vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, BBC Business reported Monday. US Central Command issued a statement confirming no Navy ships had been hit, while simultaneously asserting that American forces are actively enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Conflicting Accounts From Both Sides
The denial came after Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency alleged two missiles struck a US Navy boat after it ignored warnings from Iranian naval forces. A senior Iranian official offered a softer version to Reuters, describing the incident as a warning shot rather than a direct hit. The official said it remained unclear whether any damage occurred. Iranian media separately reported that American and Israeli vessels had also been turned away from the strait on Monday.
Iran’s military had issued a stark warning earlier in the day, threatening strikes against any foreign forces entering the waterway, with particular reference to US troops.
Project Freedom and the Shipping Crisis
The flashpoint followed President Donald Trump‘s announcement of “Project Freedom,” a US-led operation to escort stranded merchant vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump framed the effort as a humanitarian gesture, noting ships from many nations had been trapped since Iran closed the channel at the start of the war. Roughly 2,000 vessels remain stuck, with an estimated 20,000 sailors aboard. Some 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically transits the strait, making the blockade a significant driver of rising global fuel prices.
US Central Command confirmed the deployment of guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and approximately 15,000 service personnel to support the operation.
Background: A Fragile Ceasefire Under Pressure
The incident unfolded against a precarious diplomatic backdrop. A temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran has been in place since early April, with both sides engaged in discussions toward a permanent settlement. However, a senior Iranian official warned that any US move inside the strait would be treated as a ceasefire violation. Iran’s 14-point peace proposal, delivered via Pakistan, calls for a full US military withdrawal from the region, an end to the naval blockade, and a deal within 30 days. Iranian officials have also stated that nuclear negotiations are not currently on the table, complicating Washington’s position. Trump separately told Israeli media he found the proposal unacceptable. Also on Monday, Pakistan announced it would return 22 crew members from a seized Iranian vessel to Iranian authorities, a step described as a US confidence-building measure.
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