On Monday, the United States launched an operation to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Because of the mines, however, they recommend that ships avoid regular routes and coordinate movement with the authorities, reports The Times of Israel (ToI) server.
Iran immediately warned the US Navy not to enter the strait. “We have repeatedly stated that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of ships must be coordinated with the armed forces,” ToI quoted the Iranian statement as saying.
According to the US, the goal is to restore trade and confidence in the safety of navigation, but the move may also threaten the fragile truce with Iran, and it is not yet clear whether the ship will join the operation.
On Sunday, Trump said on his social network Truth Social that countries all over the world had asked for such help. Earlier on Monday night, a prominent member of the Iranian parliament said that Tehran could consider the American escort of ships as a violation of the ceasefire.
Iran: Free sailing as before the war? Forget about it
Trump spoke hours after Iran said it was assessing the US response to its latest proposal to end the war and made it clear that these were not nuclear talks.
After Trump’s new statement, Iranian Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ali Nikzad reminded that Iran “will not back down from its position regarding the Strait of Hormuz and it will not return to its pre-war status.”
According to some sources, the initiative in the Strait of Hormuz does not necessarily include escorting merchant ships by the US Navy. Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on the X network that, according to him, there is also a possibility that the US will not directly accompany merchant vessels, but will move nearby and intervene only in the event of a threat of attack.
