Australia emphasized the "necessity of reopening" the Strait of Hormuz in response to Donald Trump’s "Freedom of Navigation" plan for the strategic waterway. Alireza Mohabi reported this for Iran International.
Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, stated that the security of critical trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz is a global responsibility, not just a regional issue. He also noted that the UAE's decision to leave OPEC and OPEC Plus is not directed against any specific country.
President Trump's Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz involves deploying US forces near the area to respond quickly to threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran, rather than directly escorting commercial ships. The plan also includes providing information on safe maritime routes to avoid mine-laying by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The IRGC, claiming control of the Strait of Hormuz, warned commercial and oil tanker ships against transiting without coordination with regional forces, threatening security risks, in response to President Trump's announcement of reopening the strait. Concurrently, the United States handed over the crew of the seized Iranian ship Tuska to Pakistan and plans to return the ship to its origin.
Ali Abdollahi, the commander of the Central Headquarters of the IRGC's "Khatam al-Anbiya," stated that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is under the control of the Islamic Republic's armed forces and that any passage through the strait must be coordinated with them. He also accused the United States of engaging in "aggressive actions" and "piracy" in international waters, posing a risk to regional stability and global trade security.
Iran’s armed forces command has issued a warning to the U.S. Navy, stating that the U.S. Navy should not approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz.
The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters threatened to "attack" any foreign armed force, particularly the U.S. Army, if it approaches or enters the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the security of the waterway is under the control of the Islamic Republic's armed forces. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously announced a mission to assist the passage of ships from neutral countries through the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM announced that 15,000 U.S. military personnel will participate in "Operation Freedom," beginning on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, to safely evacuate ships and crew from non-involved countries facing shortages of food and essential supplies.
Alireza Salimi, a member of Iran's parliament presidium, stated that the annual value of cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz is $1.5 trillion and that the Islamic Republic could receive one to two percent of this value, equivalent to $15 billion to $30 billion respectively.
An informed source told "IranWire" that the board of directors of the Football Federation in Iran was informed by the IRGC Intelligence that the United States "will definitely stop the war before the World Cup begins." Report by Payam Yunesi-Pour.
On Sunday evening, May 3, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the commencement of "Operation Freedom" starting early Monday, Middle East time, to safely extract ships and crews of non-involved countries from the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated that the U.S. would guide these ships through the restricted waters to ensure their safe passage.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued an evacuation warning to residents in Qana, Dbayel, Qaaqaiya al-Jisr, and Sarafand, stating that Hezbollah ceasefire violations have triggered imminent IDF action and residents must move at least 1000 meters away from populated areas to open ground due to serious risk.
Iranian state media reported the execution of three detainees, Mehdi Rasouli, Mohammad Reza Miri, and Ebrahim Dolatabadi, who were arrested during the Dey protests in Mashhad last year. The state news agencies charged them with "collaboration with Mossad" and "leadership of the unrest."
U.S. Central Command announced on May 4 the launch of "Operation Liberty" to ensure the freedom of commercial navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, deploying guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft, multi-domain unmanned systems, and 15,000 military personnel to support the mission.
Iranian media reported the execution of three detainees from the 2022 Dey protests in Mashhad, charged with collaborating with Mossad and leading unrest. The individuals executed were Mehdi Rasouli, Mohammad Reza Miri, and Ebrahim Dolatabadi, all arrested during protests on December 18 and 19, 2022.
Islamic Republic media reported the execution of Mehdi Rasouli, Mohammad Reza Miri, and Ebrahim Dolatabadi in connection with the December 2025 protests in Mashhad, where they were charged with various crimes including acting against national security and destroying public property.
Ibrahim Azizi, head of the Majlis Stable's National Security Commission, threatened on X that any U.S. action to ensure ship passage in the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the ceasefire, in response to President Trump's announcement of the Freedom Project on Monday.
Ibrahim Dolatabadi, a prisoner linked to last year's Dideh protests, was executed in Mashhad. He was sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court and the ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court on charges of "waging war against God." Dolatabadi was arrested during the Dey protests in Mashhad's Tabarsi Square along with his two brothers and teenage son.
According to a Wall Street Journal report citing a senior U.S. official, President Trump's Freedom Project will begin on Monday to coordinate the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, involving countries, insurance companies, and shipping groups, but without direct U.S. Navy escorting. The initiative aims to manage threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
On May 3, 2025, the Iranian state news agency Fars reported that Tehran's latest 14-article proposal to the United States does not include a 15-year halt to uranium enrichment or the immediate release of the Strait of Hormuz, amid confusion over American updates to its own proposal.
