Donald Trump's initiative to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has risked reigniting conflict in the Middle East. After confirming Iran fired 'shots' at vessels, the US President warned Tehran it would be 'blown off the face of the Earth' should it target American ships in the Gulf.
Renewed Hostilities
Air raid sirens sounded in the region for the first time since the uneasy ceasefire last month, as Iran launched missile and drone attacks on the UAE. Fifteen Iranian missiles were intercepted, while drones struck an empty crude tanker in the Strait and attacked oil fields, sending crude oil prices back up to £85 per barrel.
'Project Freedom,' as dubbed by the White House, brought a day of claims and counter-claims. The US said it successfully escorted two ships through the vital waterway, a claim Tehran blasted as 'lies.' Earlier, Iran said it fired missiles at US destroyers, only for Washington to deny this. Up to 2,000 ships remain trapped, with some 20,000 crew, and Iran vows to maintain its blockade 'with full strength.'
Diplomatic and Military Responses
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated: 'Events in Hormuz make clear that there's no military solution to a political crisis. Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.'
In a social media post, Mr Trump urged South Korea to join his project after claiming one of its ships was shot by Iran. He wrote: 'Iran has taken some shots at unrelated nations... Perhaps it's time for South Korea to come and join the mission! We've shot down seven small boats... It's all they have left.' He added that, aside from the South Korean ship, there had been 'no damage going through the Strait.'
Mr Trump said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine will hold a news conference on Tuesday.
Iran's attack on a UAE tanker contrasted with the President's claim of no damage. Iran's Major General Ali Abdollahi insisted Tehran 'maintains and powerfully manages the security of the Strait of Hormuz with full strength,' telling ships to refrain from transit without Iranian permission. A senior UAE official said the threats 'cannot be ignored.'
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that America has 'absolute control' of the Strait. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its guided-missile destroyers had transited the waterway, and as a first step, two US-flagged merchant vessels were guided through.
Iran had earlier claimed to hit a US warship, later saying it fired only 'warning shots' after Washington denied its navy was struck. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed CENTCOM's statement, saying: 'No commercial vessels or oil tankers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past few hours, and the claims of American officials are baseless and completely false.'
Economic and Strategic Implications
When Mr Trump announced Project Freedom to guide ships safely out of the Strait on Sunday, oil prices cooled, but yesterday's strikes saw them shoot back up by 2 per cent. Shipping bosses said the situation remained too uncertain and complained of a lack of detail on how the US plan would work. German firm Hapag-Lloyd said its risk assessments 'remain unchanged' and the Strait 'remains closed for Hapag-Lloyd transits until further notice.'
Project Freedom is the latest attempt to gain leverage over hardline leaders in Tehran, who feel buoyant over the direction of the war. Iran is pushing for the US to delay talks on its nuclear ambitions in return for opening the waterway, which would represent a capitulation. Mr Trump has signalled he would reject the proposal, and yesterday Iran was reviewing a 14-point US response.
The regime taunted Washington, with the IRGC intelligence unit saying 'the room for US decision-making has narrowed.' It said Mr Trump must choose between 'an impossible military operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran.'
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the 'priority is to end the war' but blamed the US for lack of progress, adding: 'The other side must commit to a reasonable approach.'
Vowing to blow Iran 'off the face of the Earth' if it attacks US vessels, Mr Trump told Fox News he believes Tehran has become 'much more malleable' in negotiations. He said: 'We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before. We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world... bases all over the world. We can use all of that stuff – and we will, if we need it.'
The US also claimed to have sunk six Iranian small boats near the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said Iran usually deploys 'between 20 and 40 small boats' when harassing vessels. 'Today, we saw just six, and eliminated them quickly,' he added.
