Iran claims on Monday that it opened fire on a US naval vessel as Washington began efforts to ensure the free passage of global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, marking a sharp escalation in the standoff between the two countries.

Iran’s semiofficial Fars News Agency, which is closely aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), initially reported that an unidentified American ship had been struck by two missiles near the port of Jask, located southeast of the strategic waterway, after the vessel allegedly failed to heed orders to stop.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected the report, stating on social media platform X: “No US Navy ships have been struck. US forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”

A senior Iranian official later told Reuters that the incident involved a warning shot rather than a confirmed strike, adding that it remained uncertain whether any damage had been inflicted on the vessel.

Tehran has repeatedly claimed to have targeted US naval assets since hostilities began on Feb. 28, including an assertion in March that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier had been hit. CENTCOM dismissed that claim at the time, saying “the missiles launched didn’t even come close.”

President Trump said Sunday on Truth Social that the United States would “guide” vessels through the strait as part of an operation dubbed Project Freedom, cautioning that Iranian attempts to obstruct maritime traffic “will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”

Iran responded with a warning that all vessels seeking to traverse the strait must first coordinate with its authorities, and vowed to confront any attempt to bypass its control of the waterway.

“We warn that any foreign military force — especially the aggressive US military — that intends to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted,” Maj. Gen. Pilot Ali Abdollahi told state broadcaster IRIB.

At the same time, the US has cautioned shipping firms that payments to Iran in exchange for passage through the strait could trigger sanctions, while continuing a naval blockade of Iranian ports that has been in place since April 13.

According to CENTCOM, 49 commercial vessels had already been turned back by the restrictions as of Sunday.

US officials have indicated that the blockade is intended to pressure Iran into renewed negotiations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that Tehran was “going to have to start shutting in wells, which we think could be in the next week,” citing concerns that the country’s oil storage capacity is nearing its limit.

With tensions mounting, many ships caught in the region have chosen to remain stationary rather than risk passage through the contested waters.

The International Maritime Organization reported that roughly 2,000 vessels — including oil tankers, cargo ships, and cruise liners — have been immobilized in the strait since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, leaving as many as 20,000 crew members stranded.

“There is no precedent for the stranding of so many seafarers in the modern age,” Damien Chevallier, director of the IMO’s maritime safety division, told reporters March 31.

On Monday, the US-led Joint Maritime Information Center advised ships to travel through Oman’s territorial waters, noting the establishment of an “enhanced security area” to reduce risks.

The center also cautioned that navigating traditional shipping lanes “should be considered extremely hazardous due to the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated.”

US military officials have said the operation could involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and approximately 15,000 personnel, though details regarding the exact nature of escorts or support for commercial vessels have not been fully disclosed.

{Matzav.com}