Iran has warned that any “interference” by the US in the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire, according to a senior official from the country on Sunday, referring to President Donald Trump’s announcement of an operation to free vessels trapped in the region due to Iran’s blockade. The chairman of the National Security Commission of the Persian country, Ebrahim Azizi, stated in a post on X that “any US interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire.” On Sunday, Trump announced an operation called Project Freedom to escort merchant ships from third countries trapped by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz so they can leave the restricted waters. The United States Central Command (Centcom), in charge of US operations in the region, reported that the operation will involve “guided missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft based on land and sea, multi-domain autonomous platforms (drones), and 15,000 service members.”
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US evacuates crew of intercepted Iranian ship to Pakistan
The United States has evacuated to Pakistan the 22 crew members of an Iranian container ship, to be handed over to Iranian authorities later this Monday, according to a statement published by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry described the action as a “confidence-building measure” between Iran and the US.
The Iranian ship, the Touska — intercepted on April 19 by the US Navy — will be towed back to Pakistani waters for return to the original owners after necessary repairs. (Reuters)
Rutte says Europe “got the message” from Trump after troop withdrawal from Germany
European nations “have got the message” from US President Donald Trump and are now ensuring that agreements on the use of military bases are being enforced, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday. His statements come after the withdrawal of 5,000 US soldiers from bases in Germany, following German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s declaration that the Iranians were “humiliating” the US.
Trump has accused some NATO countries of not doing enough to support the US in the war with Iran. “Yes, there has been some disappointment from the US side, but the Europeans have listened,” Rutte told the press at a European Political Community summit in Armenia.
The American has also threatened to withdraw troops from Spain and Italy. A few days earlier, Reuters had leaked that the Pentagon was looking for ways to “sanction” “difficult” NATO allies who do not help in the conflict with Iran. (Reuters)
Iran “will respond harshly” if US carries out its operation in Hormuz
The unified command of Iran’s armed forces has warned the US Navy not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, as they “will respond harshly” to “any threat anywhere” on their territory, according to a statement released by state media following the US announcement of an operation — called “Project Freedom” — to free ships stranded in the waterway.
“We have repeatedly said that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels must be coordinated with the armed forces,” the Iranian statement concludes. (Reuters)
British Navy calls threat level to maritime security in Hormuz “critical”
The UK Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO) warned on Monday that the level of “threat” to maritime security in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the epicenter of tensions between the US and Iran due to its closure and the naval blockade imposed by the White House on Tehran there, remains “critical.”
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“The threat level to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz remains critical due to ongoing regional military operations,” the British center said in a statement urging mariners to “expect” an “increased naval presence,” as well as “enhanced force protection measures, possible calls on (very high frequency) VHF, and congestion near anchorage areas.”
In this regard, the maritime authority called on ship captains to maintain “continuous listening” on VHF channel 16 — the international distress and maritime safety frequency for vessels — as well as to consider the “proximity and dangers” of “any mine or reported threat along planned transit routes” and to report “any unusual activity” to recognized notification centers. (EP)
Attack against Iran
Hormuz, the island that gives the strait its name, facing the blockade: “Everything has collapsed”
The island of Hormuz is one of the few places in Iran where women wear burqas. Due to the proximity of this island to the Arab countries on the other side of the Persian Gulf, wearing this garment — which covers the entire face and is more common among Sunni Muslim believers than Shia — is a deeply rooted custom. Although with the peculiarity that instead of fabric, here the burqa is made of masks of various colors and shapes, adding spectacle to this small volcanic island full of salts and minerals that gives the strait its name. The uniqueness of this place has allowed its inhabitants to live off tourism, which they add to their traditional source of income, fishing. But the blockade of the strait as a consequence of the US and Israel war against Iran has put the population (about 10,000 inhabitants) on the front line and plunged it into despair. Many have chosen to flee the area due to the collapse of their economy and the danger of attacks.
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Iran warns that US “interference” in the Strait of Hormuz is a “violation of the ceasefire”
Iran has warned that any “interference” by the US in the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire, according to a senior official from the country on Sunday, referring to President Donald Trump’s announcement of an operation to free vessels trapped in the region due to Iran’s blockade.
The chairman of the National Security Commission of the Persian country, Ebrahim Azizi, stated in a post on X that “any US interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire.” Azizi adds that “the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf will not be governed by Trump’s delirious statements. No one will believe in his conspiracy theories!” after the United States Central Command (Centcom) detailed Trump’s order on the so-called ‘Project Freedom,’ which will mobilize more than 100 aircraft, destroyers, drones, and 15,000 military personnel. (Efe)
WAR AGAINST IRAN
United States will mobilize destroyers, planes, and 15,000 soldiers to guide trapped ships in Hormuz
The United States will begin this Monday an initiative to free merchant ships from neutral countries that have become trapped in the Strait of Hormuz due to the blockade imposed by Iran since the start of the war, according to Donald Trump, who described the operation as a “humanitarian gesture.” The Central Command, responsible for US military forces in the Persian Gulf, stated that the measure, called Project Freedom, aims to defend freedom of navigation in international waters.
You can read the full information here
Good morning. The US operation to free vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iranian blockade, announced by President Donald Trump and called Project Freedom, will mobilize more than 100 aircraft, destroyers, drones, and 15,000 military personnel. The mission will begin this Monday, Trump warned in a message on Truth Social, after “countries around the world” requested US assistance to allow the safe passage of their ships.
According to the president, many of these countries are “innocent” and have no connection to the conflict in Iran, so the United States plans to escort them through the Strait of Hormuz as a “humanitarian gesture,” in which he also urged Iran to participate.
