TEHRAN – The Iranian Navy fired cruise missiles, combat drones, and rockets near US warships on Monday after the vessels ignored warnings not to approach the Strait of Hormuz, the Navy said in a statement.
The confrontation comes hours after President Donald Trump announced he had ordered the US military to begin an operation to break Iran’s control over the strategic waterway – an action that threatens to unravel the fragile ceasefire that has been in place since early April.
What Iran says happened
According to the Iranian Navy statement:
- US warships turned off their transponders and attempted to approach the Strait in “dark mode”
- The vessels then reactivated their radars
- Iranian forces issued initial warnings, which were ignored
- Iran then fired warning shots with cruise missiles, rockets, and combat drones near the US vessels
“The responsibility and dangerous consequences of such actions will fall upon the hostile enemy,” the statement said.
Why this matters
Iran has controlled the Strait of Hormuz since the early days of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran – a conflict critics say violates the UN Charter, as it was not authorized by the Security Council nor justified as self-defense.
The key shipping lane, through which a substantial portion of global oil passes, has been effectively closed for more than two months. The consequences include:
- Nearly 3,000 ships and 20,000 sailors stranded on both sides of the Strait
- Major surge in international oil prices
- US gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon nationally
Trump’s order to break Iran’s control
Hours before the naval confrontation, Trump announced he had ordered the US military to begin an operation to break Iran’s control over the Strait and allow commercial ships to pass through.
Iran’s warning
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warned earlier Monday against any attempt by US military or commercial vessels to pass through the Strait without coordination with Iranian authorities.
An informed source told Iran’s Tasnim News Agency that Tehran is fully prepared for any scenario and “will not allow Trump and US forces to engage in bullying.”
“The Americans know that Iran will not allow Trump and US forces to engage in bullying,” the source said.
What Iran wants
Iran has indicated it is ready to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for:
- A permanent end to US-Israeli aggression against Iran
- An end to the US naval blockade on Iranian maritime trade
The bottom line
Two months after the illegal US-Israeli war on Iran began, the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint. Trump has ordered the US military to break Iran’s control. Iran has fired warning shots and says it is prepared for any scenario. The fragile ceasefire is now under severe strain – and the world is watching.
