New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that Iran would face devastating consequences in the event of an attack on American vessels attempting to reopen shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in the region escalated sharply.
The remarks came as the US launched a maritime operation, referred to as “Project Freedom”, aimed at assisting hundreds of vessels stranded in the Gulf. The move has pushed the already volatile situation closer to a broader military confrontation. Iran, however, has sought to reinforce its blockade of the strait, even as US forces reported destroying six Iranian small boats and intercepting cruise missiles and drones -claims that Tehran rejected.
Earlier developments indicated that Iran’s military command had warned of strikes against any US naval presence approaching the strait and asserted that it had targeted an American frigate with missiles, according to guardian.com.
These claims were denied by US Central Command, which maintained that no US Navy vessels had been hit and that operations to enforce restrictions on Iranian ports were ongoing.
According to US Central Command, two US-flagged merchant ships successfully transited the strait on Monday under naval protection, with guided-missile destroyers operating in the region. Shipping major Maersk later confirmed that one of its US-flagged vessels had exited the waterway safely with US military escort.
In the UAE, authorities reported intercepting 15 missiles and four drones in what was described as a fresh wave of attacks. A fire was also reported at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, the country’s largest oil storage facility, following what officials characterised as a drone strike originating from Iran.
Neighbouring Oman reported that two individuals were injured after a residential building in Bukha, along the Hormuz coastline, was struck. In response to the deteriorating security situation, the UAE ordered schools to shift to remote learning for the remainder of the week.
Amid the disruption of global energy routes, Japan has reportedly received its first oil shipment from Russia since supplies were impacted by the closure of the strait. A tanker carrying crude linked to the Sakhalin-2 project reached Imabari on Monday, according to multiple reports citing industry sources.
Separately, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has cautioned that the ongoing conflict could significantly worsen global economic conditions. She indicated that inflationary pressures were already rising and warned that a prolonged conflict extending into 2027, coupled with oil prices reaching around USD 125 per barrel, could lead to a far more severe economic outcome.
Georgieva suggested that earlier projections of a short-lived conflict – featuring only a modest slowdown in global growth and limited price increases – were becoming increasingly unrealistic with each passing day.
