Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran’s parliament national security committee, warned Sunday that Tehran will view the planned U.S. mission to protect commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as “a violation of the ceasefire,” according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. Azizi also criticized U.S. rhetoric aimed at controlling the waterway.
While exiting Air Force One in Washington, President Donald Trump briefly told reporters that negotiations with Iran were going “very well” when asked, but declined to answer further questions.
U.S. Central Command announced on X that it will support “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday at the direction of President Trump. CENTCOM said the mission aims to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping and described U.S. support as essential for regional security and the global economy while also saying it will maintain the naval blockade.
A U.S. official told ABC News the military’s role is to extend a defensive umbrella over ships transiting into and out of the strait, not to provide individual escorts. CENTCOM said its contribution will include guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and about 15,000 service members.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre reported two separate attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. The first incident occurred about 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran, when a northbound bulk carrier reported being attacked by multiple small craft; all crew were reported safe and there was no environmental impact.
Hours later, UKMTO said it received a report of a second incident roughly 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah, in which a tanker was struck by unknown projectiles. Again, all crew were reported safe and no environmental damage was observed.