Iran Issues Threat to U.S. Navy in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran has issued a warning about potential attacks on American warships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, announcing a 30-minute countdown as U.S. naval vessels navigate this vital passage for the first time since the commencement of the war.

A spokesperson from Iran’s Foreign Ministry conveyed this threat to Khabar Network through intermediaries in Pakistan. They indicated that if the American ships continued their course, an attack was imminent within 30 minutes, which could jeopardize ongoing negotiations between Iran and the U.S., as reported by the New York Post.

On Saturday, several U.S. Navy ships moved through the strait, which officials described as part of a “freedom of navigation” operation in international waters. These vessels entered the Persian Gulf from the east and subsequently returned to the Arabian Sea through the strait. Axios noted that this operation was not coordinated with Tehran and was meant to assure merchant vessels about the safety of the shipping lanes.

Centcom confirmed the initiative, with Commander Adm. Brad Cooper stating, “Today, we began the process of establishing a new shipping lane, and we will soon share this safe shipping lane with the maritime industry to facilitate free commerce.” The military plans to include underwater drones in this mission shortly.

Shortly after, a senior Iranian military figure appeared on state television claiming no U.S. vessel had passed through the strait, according to the Jerusalem Post. On Truth Social, former President Donald Trump commented that the U.S. was “beginning the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to countries around the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others.” He criticized these nations for lacking the “courage or will” to address the issue independently.

This naval crossing coincided with ceasefire discussions between Washington and the Iranian government taking place in Pakistan. Since March, Iran has largely blocked the strait after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks against it. This week, the Iranian government acknowledged having laid mines in the waterway but admitted difficulties in locating them all.