Reactions and statements from the international community
At 1200 UTC, U.S. military operations to restore "freedom of navigation" through the Strait of Hormuz have commenced.
The United States is set to launch Operation Freedom Project in the Strait of Hormuz, deploying over 15,000 military personnel and approximately 100 aircraft to ensure safe passage of ships amid threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Reports from the Hormozgan coast indicate sounds resembling gunfire at sea, while global oil prices have risen due to escalating tensions.
A senior U.S. official quoted by Axios stated that President Trump has issued an ultimatum to the Islamic Republic of Iran, threatening severe military action if an achievable agreement is not reached soon, amid ongoing negotiations and dissatisfaction with the current stalemate situation.
Iranian regime-affiliated media reported that a U.S. warship near Jask, Iran, was hit by a missile and forced to retreat, though a senior U.S. official and CENTCOM denied the claim, stating no U.S. Navy vessels were targeted. Despite the denials, global markets reacted with rising dollar and oil prices due to heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that an ADNOC-affiliated oil tanker was attacked by two drones while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in no casualties. The UAE condemned the attack and attributed it to the Islamic Republic, calling for an end to hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
A senior Iranian official stated that warning shots were fired at a US navy vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters.
A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was targeted by multiple projectiles, and simultaneously, the crude oil tanker "Barakah" off the coast of Oman was attacked by two drones affiliated with the Islamic Republic regime, according to ADNOC Logistics & Services.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared control over a 100-mile area in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to target any maritime movement in the region with missiles. This announcement comes as tensions over shipping security in the strategic waterway have escalated.
The UAE Foreign Ministry stated that an Emirati oil tanker was attacked by two Iranian drones in the Strait of Hormuz, blaming the IRGC for what it termed "economic blackmail that amounts to piracy."
Tehran warned American forces to stay away from the Strait of Hormuz following Donald Trump's announcement of a plan to assist ships stranded in the Persian Gulf. Ali-Hossein Ghazizadeh, a member of the Iran International editorial board, commented on the consequences of the maritime blockade against the Islamic Republic.
The CENTCOM account on X refuted reports by IRGC media outlets that U.S. Navy ships were targeted by Iranian missiles, stating no U.S. Navy ships were struck. Earlier, Tasnim news agency reported "initial strikes" on U.S. combatant vessels, citing an unnamed military source.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates condemned the Islamic Republic's attack on an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an act of "piracy." No injuries were reported in the incident.
