A person stands within the water, showing to fish, as bulk carriers, cargo ships, and repair vessels line the horizon within the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, April 27, 2026.
Razieh Poudat/AP/ISNA
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Razieh Poudat/AP/ISNA
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The US will launch an effort on Monday to “guide” stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump stated, as two ships across the strait reported assaults.
Trump gave few particulars about what could possibly be a sweeping try to assist a whole bunch of vessels and a few 20,000 seafarers. Iran rapidly denounced the transfer as a ceasefire violation.
Trump stated in a social media publish on Sunday that “neutral and innocent” international locations have been affected by the Iran conflict, and “we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”
“Project Freedom” would start on Monday morning within the Center East, Trump stated, including that his representatives are having discussions with Iran that would result in one thing “very positive for all.”
U.S. Central Command stated the initiative would contain guided-missile destroyers, greater than 100 plane and 15,000 service members. The Pentagon didn’t instantly reply questions on how they’d be deployed.
Iran’s efficient closure of the strait, imposed after the U.S. and Israel launched the conflict on Feb. 28, has shaken international markets.
Ships and seafarers, many on oil and gasoline tankers and cargo ships, have been caught within the Persian Gulf for the reason that conflict started. Crew members have described to The Related Press seeing intercepted drones and missiles explode over the waters as their vessels run low on consuming water, meals and different provides. Many sailors come from India and different international locations in South and Southeast Asia.
“They are victims of circumstance,” Trump wrote, and described the trouble as a humanitarian gesture “on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.” However he sounded a warning: “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
Iran’s state-run IRNA information company referred to as Trump’s announcement a part of his “delirium,” and Ebrahim Azizi, head of the nationwide safety fee of Iran’s parliament, stated on X that any interference within the strait can be seen as a ceasefire violation.
Trump spoke hours after Iran stated it was reviewing the U.S. response to its newest proposal to finish the conflict and made clear these aren’t nuclear negotiations. The delicate three-week ceasefire seems to be holding.
Cargo ships attacked close to the strait
Earlier Sunday, a cargo ship close to the Strait of Hormuz stated it was attacked by a number of small craft, the British navy’s United Kingdom Maritime Commerce Operations heart reported, whereas one other ship was hit by “unknown projectiles.” They had been the most recent in at the very least two dozen assaults in and across the strait for the reason that Iran conflict started, and a reminder of the dangers if the brand new U.S. effort goes ahead.
No accidents had been reported.
They had been the primary reported assaults within the space since April 22. Tehran has successfully closed the strait by attacking and threatening ships, and the risk degree within the space stays essential.
The primary ship was an unidentified cargo ship touring north close to Sirik, Iran, east of the strait, the British monitor stated. Iranian officers have asserted that they management the strait and that ships not affiliated with the US or Israel can move in the event that they pay a toll, difficult the liberty of navigation assured by worldwide regulation.
Iran denied an assault, the semiofficial Iranian retailers Fars and Tabnak reported, and stated a passing ship had been stopped for a paperwork examine as a part of monitoring.
Iranian patrol boats, some powered solely by twin outboard motors, are small, nimble and exhausting to detect. Trump final month ordered the U.S. navy to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines within the strait.
The second ship was a tanker that reported being struck round 11:40 p.m. Sunday whereas off Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
The British navy monitor additionally stated Sunday that ships close to Ras al-Khaimah, the northernmost emirate within the United Arab Emirates and near the strait, reported receiving radio warnings to maneuver from anchorages. It was not clear who despatched the VHF messages.
Iran opinions US response to its newest proposal
Tehran is reviewing the U.S. response to its newest proposal to finish the conflict, Iran’s judiciary Mizan information company cited International Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei as saying.
However “at this stage, we have no nuclear negotiations,” Baghaei stated. Iran’s nuclear program and enriched uranium have lengthy been the central subject in tensions with the U.S., however Tehran would somewhat deal with it later.
Iran’s proposal desires different points resolved inside 30 days and goals to finish the conflict somewhat than lengthen the ceasefire, based on Iran’s state-linked media. Trump on Saturday stated he was reviewing the proposal however expressed doubt it might result in a deal.
Folks stroll as Iranian flags hold within the Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Sunday, Might 3, 2026.
Vahid Salemi/AP
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Vahid Salemi/AP
Iran’s 14-point proposal requires the U.S. lifting sanctions on Iran, ending the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdrawing forces from the area and ceasing all hostilities, together with Israel’s operations in Lebanon, based on the semiofficial Nour Information and Tasnim companies, which have shut ties to Iran’s safety organizations.
Pakistan’s prime minister, overseas minister and armed forces chief proceed to encourage the U.S. and Iran to talk instantly, based on two officers in Pakistan who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk to the media. Pakistan hosted face-to-face talks final month and has handed messages between the 2 sides.
Iran stands agency on Strait of Hormuz
Trump has supplied a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the place a few fifth of the world’s commerce in oil and pure gasoline usually passes, together with fertilizer badly wanted by farmers world wide and different petroleum-derived merchandise.
Tehran “will not back down from our position on the Strait of Hormuz, and it will not return to its prewar conditions,” Iran’s deputy parliament speaker, Ali Nikzad, stated earlier Sunday.
The U.S. has warned transport firms they may face sanctions for paying Iran in any kind, together with digital belongings, to transit the strait safely.
In the meantime, the U.S. naval blockade since April 13 is depriving Tehran of oil income it must shore up its ailing economic system. The U.S. Central Command on Sunday stated 49 industrial ships have been informed to show again.
“We think that they’ve gotten less than $1.3 million in tolls, which is a pittance on their previous daily oil revenues,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed Fox Information on Sunday. He stated Iran’s oil storage is quickly filling up and “they’re going to have to start shutting in wells, which we think could be in the next week.”
