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Iran claims it has prevented a U.S. warship from entering the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, asserting it fired a warning shot. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that it remains unclear if the warship was damaged. Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command promptly dismissed reports of a missile strike against the vessel.
Oil prices surged by 5% amid fears that the critical shipping route, which has been shut for over two months, might stay blocked even longer. This ongoing blockage has already caused significant disruptions to the global economy and a spike in oil costs, with prices increasing by more than 50%.
Iran’s navy asserted it had issued a swift and firm warning to stop “American-Zionist” ships from crossing into the strait. Fars News Agency, an Iranian semi-official outlet, reported that two missiles hit the warship near the port of Jask at the southern entrance to the strait, although Centcom denied any vessel was struck.
U.S. forces are supporting President Trump’s “Project Freedom,” which aims to guide stranded commercial ships out of the Gulf—ships that are running low on supplies amid the U.S.-Israeli conflicts with Iran—and are enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports.
Trump provided limited details about his plan to assist ships and their crews, who are stranded and facing shortages. Shipping companies have not shown signs of resuming operations. Trump stated on Truth Social that the U.S. would guide ships safely through the restricted waters so they could continue their business operations freely.
Iran’s military responded to Trump’s announcement by instructing commercial ships and oil tankers to avoid any movements unless coordinated with Iran’s armed forces. Ali Abdollahi, the leader of Iran’s unified military command, warned that any foreign armed forces, especially the U.S. military, trying to approach or enter the strait would be attacked.
Since the conflict began, Iran has largely blocked all shipping into and out of the Gulf except for its own vessels, cutting off about 20% of the world’s oil and gas shipments. This has caused oil prices to spike dramatically.
The U.S. Central Command has committed 15,000 troops, along with numerous aircraft, warships, and drones, to support Trump’s “Project Freedom,” emphasizing that their support is essential for regional stability and the global economy, while also maintaining the naval blockade.
Despite these efforts, hundreds of merchant vessels and around 20,000 crew members remain unable to traverse the strait, according to the International Maritime Organization. Shipping companies like Hapag-Lloyd report that the transit remains impossible, and industry leaders stress that military convoys alone won’t resolve the situation; a cessation of hostilities and peace negotiations are necessary for normal shipping to resume.
Additionally, the United Arab Emirates accused Iran of attacking an empty crude oil tanker belonging to ADNOC, the UAE’s state oil company, with drones during its passage through the strait.
In a rare piece of positive news, Pakistan announced it had handed over 22 crew members from an Iranian container vessel that U.S. forces had seized last month. Islamabad called this a “confidence-building measure” as it continues to seek a diplomatic solution.
The Trump administration is seeking international support to secure shipping lanes, combining diplomatic and military efforts. However, details about the specific countries involved or how the operation will be conducted remain undisclosed. It’s also unclear whether U.S. Navy ships will escort commercial vessels, according to reports.
Iran is reviewing the U.S. response to its proposed peace initiatives. Although Washington and Israel paused their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, and a round of dialogue took place, further negotiations have yet to materialize. Iran has conveyed that it considers ending the war on all fronts—including Israel’s attacks on Lebanon—more urgent than resolving the shipping crisis, with hopes of addressing nuclear issues later.
The U.S. demands Iran relinquish its stockpile of over 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which Washington fears could be used to make a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and has proposed some restrictions in return for sanctions relief, similar to the 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by Trump.
With midterm elections approaching, President Trump faces pressure to dismantle Iran’s hold on the Strait of Hormuz to prevent soaring fuel prices, which could impact his political prospects.
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