The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps on Monday hit with two missiles a U.S. Navy frigate that sought to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The U.S. frigate, which had set sail near Iran's southern port city of Jask to cross the Strait of Hormuz "in violation of the traffic and shipping security," was hit after ignoring the Iranian naval forces' warning, Fars cited local sources as saying.
It added that after being struck, the frigate was forced to retreat and flee from the region.
However, according to a subsequent report by Axios, a senior U.S. official denied that a U.S. ship was hit by Iranian missiles.
Iran has repeatedly announced that no movement is possible through the Strait of Hormuz without its official permission, and ignoring this warning will be met with a decisive response from the Iranian armed forces, according to Fars.
Also on Monday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels had successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz as American forces are assisting efforts to restore commercial shipping transit through the strategic waterway.
U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Persian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom, it wrote in a post on X.
Brad Cooper, chief of U.S. Central Command, told a news conference on the day the U.S. military had sunk six small Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz with air strikes from Apache and MH 60 Seahawk helicopters.
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency rejected U.S. claims of sinking Iranian boats.
The developments came after U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States would begin guiding ships out of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning, describing the move, named Project Freedom, as a "humanitarian gesture."
In response to Trump's claim, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned on Monday that "any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive U.S. army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz," according to the official news agency IRNA.
Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz beginning Feb. 28, when it barred safe passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following joint strikes on Iranian territory.
The United States imposed its anti-Iran blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after post-ceasefire negotiations with Tehran in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, on April 11 and 12 failed to lead to an agreement.
Iran, U.S. militaries trade shots as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
Iran, U.S. militaries trade shots as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
