The incident occurred hours after U.S. President Donald Trump launched "Project Freedom," a mission to guide hundreds of stranded commercial vessels through the blockaded waterway. Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency, citing local sources, reported that two missiles struck an American warship near Jask Island after the vessel "ignored warnings from the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy" to halt. Iranian state media further claimed the ship was "unable to continue its course" and was "forced to retreat and flee the area."
The U.S. military swiftly rejected the account. "No U.S. Navy ships have been struck," U.S. Central Command said in a statement posted on X. "U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports." CENTCOM confirmed separately that two U.S. guided-missile destroyers had transited the strait and were operating in the Arabian Gulf, and that two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels had successfully passed through — the first such transit since Iran closed the waterway in late February.
Iran's account, however, did not go uncontested internationally. The United Arab Emirates condemned what it called an "Iranian terrorist attack" targeting an ADNOC tanker — a vessel owned by the Abu Dhabi state oil company — that attempted to pass through the strait. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the tanker was struck by two Iranian drones, though no injuries were reported. The attack prompted UAE authorities to issue emergency missile alerts across multiple emirates, including Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman — the first such alerts since the U.S.-Iran ceasefire took hold roughly three weeks ago. An all-clear was issued shortly afterward. A senior UAE presidential adviser, Anwar Gargash, stated that the attacks "confirm that the Iranian threat to the security and stability of the region is ongoing and cannot be ignored."
South Korea separately confirmed it was investigating a potential attack on one of its own vessels. South Korean shipper HMM reported a fire broke out in the engine room of one of its bulk carriers in the strait, with a company spokesperson telling Reuters the cause of the blaze remained under investigation and that no casualties had been reported. South Korea's government said it was "verifying intelligence" regarding the incident, according to the Yonhap News Agency.
Iran's senior military commander, Major General Ali Abdollahi, had earlier issued an unambiguous warning: "Any foreign armed force — especially the aggressive U.S. military — will be attacked if they intend to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz." A spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guard echoed the threat, warning that maritime movements inconsistent with Tehran's "declared principles" would face serious consequences.
The confrontation sent oil markets sharply higher. Brent crude surged 3.8% to $112.3 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate climbed a similar margin to $105.6 per barrel, as traders reacted to renewed fears about transit safety. The strait — through which roughly 25% of the world's seaborne oil normally flows — has remained largely closed since late February, when the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, triggering retaliatory missile attacks and Iran's naval blockade.
The flare-up threatens to unravel a fragile ceasefire brokered through Pakistani mediation in early April. Trump said Monday that U.S. representatives were engaged in "very positive discussions" with Iran, while Iran's Foreign Ministry said it was reviewing Washington's latest reply to its peace proposal. With hundreds of ships and thousands of crew members still stranded in the region, the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz shows no signs of resolution.