U.S. Military Denies Iran Claim of Warship Strike in Strait of Hormuz
CNBC reported Monday that U.S. Central Command has flatly rejected Iranian state media claims that a Navy warship was struck by two missiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM Fires Back at Tehran’s Narrative
The U.S. military command covering the Middle East posted a direct denial on its official X account Monday. “No U.S. Navy ships have been struck,” CENTCOM stated. The denial came hours after Iran’s Fars News Agency alleged a U.S. frigate was hit twice and forced to abandon its route. Fars, which is editorially aligned with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, claimed the vessel retreated after ignoring a naval warning. CENTCOM’s account directly contradicted those claims. It said two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels had already passed through the strait safely.
Project Freedom Takes Shape
President Donald Trump announced “Project Freedom” on Sunday evening via a Truth Social post. The operation is designed to escort stranded commercial ships out of the waterway. Trump said uninvolved nations would receive U.S. assistance to move their vessels safely through restricted waters. He framed the effort as humanitarian. However, he also warned that any interference with the operation would “have to be dealt with forcefully.” CENTCOM confirmed that guided-missile destroyers had already transited the strait in support of the mission by Monday morning.
Background: A Blockade That Has Rattled Energy Markets
Iran has restricted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Israel began hostilities on February 28. Before the conflict, the strait carried roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil. Its effective closure has triggered a significant energy supply shock, driving prices sharply higher and unsettling global commodity markets. Ship traffic remained depressed even after the two sides reached a shaky ceasefire. That truce has not produced any meaningful diplomatic breakthrough. In mid-April, Trump ordered a naval blockade of Iranian ports to increase economic pressure on Tehran. Analysts warned at the time that Iran could withstand the pressure for several months.
Markets Watch as Diplomatic Path Narrows
The standoff adds fresh uncertainty to an already fragile situation. Trump’s own Sunday post appeared to acknowledge the operation could complicate diplomacy. Tensions in the strait remain a live variable for global energy prices, with traders watching each escalation closely. Any confirmed exchange of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces would likely send oil markets sharply higher.
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