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Iran vows to target any ship approaching Strait of Hormuz
IRGC sets new control zone for waterway
Iran’s military warned on Monday it will target any foreign forces approaching or entering the Strait of Hormuz after the United States said it would help guide ships through the strategic waterway.
Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Major General Ali Abdollahi in a statement said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is solely under the authority of Iran, emphasizing that all safe passage through the waterway must be coordinated with Iranian military forces.
He called on all commercial vessels and tankers to refrain from any attempt to transit without prior coordination with the Iranian armed forces stationed in the strait, warning that failure to do so would endanger their safety.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said that the new maritime operation was a “humanitarian” gesture for crews aboard the many ships stuck in the Persian Gulf who may be running low on supplies. He said the US would help ships from countries not involved in the US-Israeli war with Iran that broke out in late February.
Once out, “they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The United States Central Command, CENTCOM, said it would use guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members in the operation.
As of April 29, more than 900 commercial vessels were located in the Perian Gulf, according to maritime intelligence firm AXSMarine.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also announced a new maritime control zone in the strait.
The zone stretches between two defined maritime lines: one running from the western tip of Iran’s Qeshm Island to Umm Al-Quwain in the United Arab Emirates, and another extending from Kuh-e Mobarak in Iran to the area south of Fujairah in the UAE.
Shortly after Iran’s warning, Fars News Agency reported that a US frigate in the strait “was targeted by a missile attack after ignoring a warning from the Iranian navy”, adding that it was hit and forced to turn back.
However, CENTCOM denied the report, saying that no US frigate was struck by the Iranian forces.
Navy’s warning
The Navy of Iran’s Army also in a statement warned that any attempt by the US warships to enter the strait is considered as the violation of a ceasefire in place since April 8 and will be met with a decisive response from the Iranian forces.
It came after Iran’s Navy warned several US destroyers the Sea of Oman about the consequences of the breach of the ceasefire after they switched off their radars to enter the Strait of Hormuz which is a major transport route for oil, gas and fertilizer.
“Following the Zionist American destroyers’ disregard for the initial warning, the Navy issued a warning shot by firing cruise missiles, rockets, and combat drones around the aggressor enemy vessels”, the statement added.
Iran shut down the chokepoint to enemies and their allies following the unprovoked aggression.
It began exercising far stricter controls last month after Trump announced a blockade of Iranian vessels and ports in violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement.