On the 27th day of a ceasefire to the Iran War, tensions between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz intensified, with Tehran saying, through Fars News, that it had struck an American warship with two missiles—claims that the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for the Middle East, denied Monday morning.
“No U.S. Navy ships have been struck. U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted to X.
Iran has said that its navy halted a U.S warship as it attempted to enter the Strait of Hormuz near Jask Island.
The UAE foreign ministry released a statement on X that condemned what it reported as Iran’s targeting of an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tanker that attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump on Sunday evening had announced on Truth Social orders for what he termed “Project Freedom,” a plan for the U.S. Navy to “guide” vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Countries from all over the World, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute,” Trump wrote, “have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships.”
Iran’s unified command of armed forces, through Major General Ali Abdollahi, said in response that any foreign armed forces attempting to enter the strait without coordination with Tehran would be attacked, Tasnim News Agency reported on Monday.
The standoff over the strait came as peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran remained deadlocked. Iran said Sunday it had received a U.S. response to its latest proposal, delivered via Pakistani mediators.
Tasnim News Agency reported details of Iran’s 14-point counterproposal Sunday, with Tehran insisting all issues be resolved within 30 days. Iran’s terms include the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade of the strait, sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets, a withdrawal of U.S. forces from areas surrounding Iran, nonaggression guarantees, and an end to Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon.
The proposal also calls for “a new mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz” suggesting Iran intends to retain some form of permanent control over the waterway. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Sunday that Tehran’s 14-part counterproposal “focused solely on ending the war” in the Middle East, including in Lebanon and that “at this stage, we have no nuclear talks.”
Israel issued new evacuation orders in southern Lebanon Monday, as Israel launched airstrikes that Lebanon’s health ministry said have killed 17 people since Sunday morning.
The price of Brent Crude oil rose to $112 on Monday while gas prices remained elevated. AAA reported the national average price of gas at $4.46.
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