Two U.S. military vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz under Project Freedom, an operation to clear blocked commercial shipping, as Iran claimed missile strikes.
2:39 PM
Two U.S. military vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, May 4, according to officials, as tensions escalated over a newly launched American operation to clear commercial shipping lanes blocked since the start of the conflict.
The U.S. operation, named Project Freedom, began Monday to establish a corridor for safe passage of neutral merchant vessels trapped in the waterway for weeks. U.S. officials said they successfully opened the passage, with a commercial vessel escorted by American forces crossing the Strait under the operation's protection.
Iran disputed the U.S. account and announced it had fired missiles at American units in the area. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi characterized the operation as "a dead project" and stated that the events at Hormuz demonstrate "there is no military solution to a political crisis." Authorities in the United Arab Emirates also reported attacks originating from Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz crossing marked an escalation in hostilities following a ceasefire that had been in effect. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine downplayed the Iranian attacks Tuesday morning and stated the ceasefire remained in force. However, President Donald Trump said he could not confirm whether the truce was still active.
According to sources cited by Axios, Trump could order a resumption of military operations against Iran by the end of the week if diplomatic stalemate continued. The sources included American and Israeli officials familiar with the situation.
Shipping company Maersk confirmed that one of its vessels departed the Strait under U.S. escort as part of the operation. Iran's government rejected the Project Freedom initiative, with officials describing it as ineffective and calling for political rather than military resolution to the crisis.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy said it seized two container vessels for maritime violations as tensions escalate over competing blockades in the strategic waterway.
Iran proposes ending its control of the strategic waterway and the war in exchange for lifting U.S. sanctions, postponing nuclear talks.
President Trump directed the U.S. Navy to use lethal force against vessels placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz and to triple mine-clearing operations.
Alexei Mordashov's vessel Nord sailed through the blockaded waterway after maintenance in Dubai, with neither Iran nor the US objecting.
Brent crude fell below $90 a barrel after Iran declared the strategic waterway completely open for commercial traffic during the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.
The USS Spruance disabled the M/V Touska after its crew ignored warnings about a US naval blockade in the Arabian Sea.
