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Trump warns Iran will be ‘blown off the face of the Earth’ if it attacked US vessels escorting ships through Strait
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US President Donald Trump on Monday (May 4) warned that Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it attacked American vessels escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions between Washington and Tehran sharply escalated despite a fragile ceasefire.Trump’s remarks came after the United States military said it had engaged Iranian forces in and around the strategic waterway while launching “Project Freedom,” a US-led mission aimed at reopening global shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz.Trump claims Iran attacked escorted shipsSpeaking to Fox News, Trump accused Iran of targeting vessels being escorted by US forces.“Iran will be blown off the face of the Earth if they attack our ships,” Trump said.The President also claimed on Truth Social that Iran had attacked commercial vessels, including a South Korean cargo ship, moving under American protection.“Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship,” Trump wrote.“Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission,” he added.Trump further claimed that US forces had destroyed seven Iranian “fast boats.”“We’ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, ‘fast’ Boats. It’s all they have left,” Trump said.He also signaled continued military readiness in the region.“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” Trump said.“We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it,” he added.US military says Iranian threats interceptedThe US military confirmed that American forces confronted Iranian attacks while protecting commercial shipping routes.Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), said Iran launched cruise missiles, drones and small boats toward civilian vessels under US protection.According to Cooper, US military helicopters sank six Iranian boats threatening commercial shipping.“Each and every threat had been defeated,” Cooper told reporters.“The US commanders who are on the scene have all the authority necessary to defend their unit and to defend commercial shipping — as we saw and demonstrated earlier today,” he added.CENTCOM also confirmed that two American-flagged merchant vessels had successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz under naval escort as part of “Project Freedom.”The US military said it had established a protected shipping corridor free of Iranian naval mines.UAE reports missile attacks and drone strikeMeanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said it came under direct Iranian attack for the first time since the ceasefire took effect in early April.The UAE Defence Ministry said Iran launched four cruise missiles toward the country. Three were intercepted, while one reportedly fell into the sea.Authorities in Fujairah said an Iranian drone struck a major oil facility, sparking a fire that injured three Indian nationals.The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE coast.“These attacks represent a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable violation,” the UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement.Four missile alerts were issued across the UAE on Monday, forcing residents to seek shelter. Several commercial aircraft bound for Dubai and Abu Dhabi reportedly turned back mid-flight.Iran warns foreign military forcesIran defended its actions and warned foreign militaries against operating in the strategic waterway.Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi of Iran’s military command said vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz must coordinate with Iranian authorities.“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,” Abdollahi told state broadcaster IRIB.Iran’s state-run
Iran on Monday claimed it had compelled a US naval vessel to retreat from the Strait of Hormuz, though the US Navy officially refuted reports that any of its ships had been struck by Iranian missiles.Iran's semi-official Fars news agency alleged that two missiles hit a warship near the port of Jask—a southern gateway to the strait where Iran maintains a naval base, but the US military countered this claim.Earlier on Monday, Tehran had cautioned US forces against entering the strategic waterway. This warning followed President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States would launch "Project Freedom" to "guide out" international vessels currently trapped in the Gulf due to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Iran’s naval command stated it prevented "American-Zionist" vessels from entering the area by issuing a "swift and decisive warning.""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," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site on Sunday.US Central Command (CENTCOM) clarified on Monday that no Navy ships were hit, contradicting Iran’s assertion that it had forced a vessel to turn back."We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces," Ali Abdollahi, head of the forces' unified command, said in the statement."We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US Army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz."President Trump’s plan aims to assist hundreds of commercial ships and their crews, many of whom have been confined to the waterway for over two months and are reportedly facing critical shortages of food and essential supplies. In defiance, Iran’s unified military command instructed all commercial traffic and tankers to avoid any movement not coordinated with Iranian forces.Since the war began in late February, Iran has effectively blocked nearly all shipping in the Gulf except its own, disrupting roughly 20% of global oil and gas exports and causing energy prices to surge by 50% or more. CENTCOM, which is currently enforcing its own blockade on Iranian ports, stated it will support the rescue mission with 15,000 personnel, over 100 aircraft, and a fleet of warships and drones."Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade," Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, said in a statement.The US said on Monday it is ready to “guide” commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz in a new effort to end the blockade wreaking havoc on the global economy.Iran’s control of traffic through the crucial artery for the world’s oil and gas supplies has proved a major strategic advantage in its war with the US and Israel, allowing Iran to inflict tremendous pain on the global economy despite being outgunned on the battlefield.About the AuthorLivemintFor about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geopolitics. We bring the latest updates on all the listed companies on BSE and NSE, startups, mutual funds, Union ministries, geopolitics, and untapped human interest stories from around the world, helping our readers to stay informed on the latest developments around the globe. Our Coverage Areas 1. Companies: Comprehensive news and analysis on listed and unlisted companies, corporate announcements, corporate chatter, C-suite, business trends, hiring alerts, layoffs, work-life balance, world's top billionaires and richest and more. 2. Personal finance: Insights into mutual funds, small savings schemes like - PPF, SSY, post office savings scheme, stock to watch, personal loans, credit cards, top bank FDs, real estate, in
Iran has introduced "new rules" for waters off its southern coast, signaling an intent to tighten authority over critical maritime paths in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, per state-run Press TV.A decree from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the force will exercise "control over nearly 2,000 km (1,243 miles) of Iran’s coastline" spanning the Arabian Gulf and the vital Strait of Hormuz.IRGC asserts control over Strait of HormuzThe statement said the measures are aimed at turning the waters into "a source of pride and power for the dear people of Iran, and a source of security and prosperity for the region."This announcement followed a directive from Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who warned that foreigners harboring "ominous" schemes for the Persian Gulf belonged nowhere in the area "except at the bottom of its waters, reported Press TV.On April 13, the United States established a naval blockade against Iran after the Islamabad talks failed to resolve the ongoing conflict.Mojtaba Khamenei calls US ‘paper tiger’Earlier on Friday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei dismissed US military installations in West Asia as a "paper tiger," doubting their capacity to maintain their own safety as friction between Washington and Tehran intensifies.In a social media post on X, Khamenei ridiculed the defense capabilities of U.S. regional bases while subtly critiquing Washington’s allies, specifically targeting Israel and Arab nations that have backed the U.S. during the hostilities."America's paper tiger bases can't even secure themselves, let alone the regional American-worshippers," the Iranian Supreme Leader said.In a separate post, the Iranian Leader emphasized the civilizational and strategic importance of the Persian Gulf, calling it far more than a simple waterway. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Khamenei predicted a future for the Persian Gulf devoid of American influence, insisting foreign militaries would have no place there unless they were "in the depths of its waters.""The Persian Gulf is a blessing that transcends a mere expanse of blue waters; it is a part of our identity and civilisation, a point of connection between nations, and a vital pathway for the global economy," the post read.According to a Persian Gulf Day message reported by state broadcaster IRIB, Khamenei argued that regional countries share a unified fate and asserted that distant external powers must stop meddling in Gulf matters.He characterized the shifting landscape as the dawn of a "new order" forged by regional shifts and Iran’s policies of resistance.On Thursday, Iran announced alternative routes for ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, citing the risk of sea mines in the main zone of the vital waterway."All ships intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz are hereby notified that in order to comply with the principles of maritime safety and to be protected from possible collisions with sea mines...they should take alternative routes for traffic in the Strait of Hormuz," Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement quoted by local media.Renewed war ‘likely’A senior Iranian military official stated on Saturday that a return to hostilities between the United States and Iran was "likely," coming just hours after Trump expressed he was "not satisfied" with Tehran's latest peace proposal.Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a high-ranking official within the Iranian military's central command, remarked that "a renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely," according to Iran's Fars news agency."Evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements," he added.About the AuthorLivemintFor about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geopolitics. We bring the latest updates on all the listed companies on BSE and NSE, startups, mutual funds, Union m
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