Thu, September 17, 2026
Tehran (Web Desk): Iran’s unified armed forces command has warned that all commercial vessels and oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz must maintain contact with Iranian authorities during their transit, while also cautioning that the United States Navy should stay away from the area near the strategic waterway.
It said its forces would respond forcefully to any perceived threat and instructed commercial shipping and oil tankers not to move through the area without coordination with Iranian military authorities.
"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," said Ali Abdollahi, head of the unified command, in an official statement.
He further cautioned, "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."
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States (US) would begin what he called “Project Freedom” from today to assist in removing ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
He provided only limited information about the initiative, which he said is intended to help ships and crews that have been “locked up” in a strategically important maritime corridor and, according to his remarks, have been struggling with shortages of food and other essential supplies for more than two months since the crisis began.
"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 platform on Sunday.
He also stated that positive discussions were ongoing with Iran and assured that safe passage would be provided to vessels of neutral countries through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the United States (US) Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a post on X that Washington will provide military backing under a program called “Project Freedom,” aimed at “restoring freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz” Strait of Hormuz.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 3, 2026
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