U.S. and Iran exchange fire in strait as Trump attempts to open shipping lane
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A cargo boat in the strait last week. Photo: Asghar Besharati/Getty Images
The U.S. is using force in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomacy in New York in an effort to break Tehran's chokehold on the vital shipping lane.
Why it matters: Iran has already shown it's willing to respond with force, putting the two countries on the verge of a return to full-fledged war.
Driving the news: President Trump announced an initiative to "guide" commercial vessels through the strait starting on Monday morning, and Iran threatened to fire on ships that did not coordinate with its military.
- CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper told reporters on Monday that after the U.S. began the operation, Iran fired cruise missiles at Navy ships and drones at commercial vessels. All were "engaged" and no U.S. Navy ships or U.S.-flagged ships were hit, he said.
- Six Iranian small boats were eliminated by U.S. forces, including by military helicopters, Cooper said.
- CENTCOM said earlier on Monday that it had helped two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels cross the strait. Cooper said multiple U.S. destroyers were in the Gulf to help more ships cross.
The latest: Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran had fired on a South Korean cargo ship. "Other than the South Korean Ship, there has been, at this moment, no damage going through the Strait," he wrote.
The other side: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. (IRGC) denied any ships had passed through the strait as of Monday morning, adding: "Any other maritime activity that contradicts the declared principles of the IRGC Navy will face serious risks, and violating vessels will be stopped by force."
- Iran also appeared to launch multiple missile and drone attacks on the UAE and off its coast.
- The Iranian armed forces said in a statement that "U.S. aggressive actions will only complicate the current situation" and endanger the security of vessels in the Gulf.
Split screen: The U.S. will also propose a UN Security Council resolution on Monday to condemn Iran's laying of sea mines and establishment of "toll booths" in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The idea is to give other countries diplomatic cover to help de-mine the strait and open it to shipping, a senior administration official said.
- "This is related to, but distinct from Operation Freedom, which is operational. This UN resolution is about providing authority. There are countries that can help that have good de-mining capabilities. But they want a Security Council resolution and authority saying, 'yes, you can go do this.'"
- The official mentioned Germany and Scandinavian countries in particular as potential participants.
- "This is a confidence game. There are guys sitting in Brussels saying, 'I don't want to lose $100 million in oil.' So they're not moving their ships. So we want to show this can be done. There is a safe lane. There is a protective bubble."
Between the lines: Cooper claimed a passage was now open in the strait under the U.S. "defensive umbrella," while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News the U.S. military had "absolute control" of the waterway.
- But military allies and commercial vessels may not trust that's the case when Iran is threatening to fire on anyone that attempts to transit without permission.
What to watch: Cooper said the U.S. operation was purely "defensive" and the U.S. was only responding to Iranian fire.
- But with the apparent attacks on the UAE and Iran's moves in the strait, it remains to be seen whether the U.S. will escalate its own tactics.
