US Denies Warship Was Hit as Hormuz Standoff Intensifies
BBC Business reported Monday that the United States military has flatly rejected Iranian claims that a Navy warship was struck by missiles near the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (Centcom) issued a statement confirming that no American naval vessels had been hit. The command added that its forces were actively enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports. The denial came after Iranian semi-official news agency Fars alleged that two missiles hit a US Navy boat after it ignored a warning from Iran’s naval forces.
Competing Claims Cloud a Tense Situation
A senior Iranian official, speaking to Reuters, offered a partial concession. The official said Iran had fired a warning shot to deter the warship, but acknowledged that damage was uncertain. Iranian media separately claimed that US and Israeli destroyers had been blocked from entering the strait on Monday.
Centcom later confirmed that two US-flagged merchant vessels had completed transit through the strait, though it declined to name either ship. “American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping,” the command said in its statement.
What Is Project Freedom
Earlier Monday, President Donald Trump announced “Project Freedom,” describing the initiative as a humanitarian effort to free vessels trapped by Iran’s closure of the strategically vital waterway. Trump said the operation would involve roughly 15,000 US service personnel, guided-missile destroyers, and more than 100 aircraft.
Trump characterised the stranded ships as “neutral and innocent bystanders” and said nations across the world had requested American assistance. He described ongoing diplomatic talks with Iran as “very positive,” suggesting they could produce meaningful results for all parties involved.
Background: Why the Strait Matters
The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. Iran closed the channel at the onset of the current conflict, leaving approximately 2,000 ships stranded and around 20,000 sailors effectively trapped in the Gulf. Fuel prices have risen globally as a result, and humanitarian concerns over sailors’ welfare have mounted steadily.
A temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran took effect on 8 April. However, a senior Iranian official warned that any American interference in the strait would constitute a ceasefire violation, adding a layer of legal and diplomatic complexity to the operation.
Tanker Strikes and Diplomatic Signals
The situation remains volatile. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported Sunday that a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile inside the strait. The United Arab Emirates separately confirmed that a vessel affiliated with state oil company Adnoc was also hit Monday, though no crew injuries were reported.
On the diplomatic front, Iranian state media said Tehran had received a US response to its latest peace proposal, delivered through Pakistan. Trump reportedly told Israeli media the proposal was unacceptable in its current form, suggesting negotiations remain far from resolution.
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