Iran said Monday that security in the Strait of Hormuz remains under its armed forces, warning it would confront any foreign military presence, after Donald Trump announced a US-led naval escort operation for commercial shipping.
The warning came as Washington prepared to launch so-called “Project Freedom,” a plan to escort vessels through the waterway.
Brigadier General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said any safe passage through the strait must be coordinated with Iranian forces, reiterating that Tehran alone is responsible for its security.
“We have repeatedly declared that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in the hands of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said, warning commercial vessels against transiting the area without prior coordination.
Brig. Gen. Abdollahi added that any foreign military force, “especially the American military,” approaching or entering the strait would face attack, accusing the United States of destabilizing international waters and threatening global trade.
The remarks followed Trump’s announcement that US forces would begin escorting ships through what he described as a “closed” strait, framing the move as a humanitarian effort to assist vessels stranded amid supply shortages.
“We will do our utmost to safely remove their ships and crews,” Trump said, adding that any interference with the operation would be met “forcefully.”
⚡️ Trump launches ‘PROJECT FREEDOM’ to guide ships OUT of Hormuz waters pic.twitter.com/WGJHuDWjm4
— RT (@RT_com) May 3, 2026
The US Central Command, CENTCOM, said it would deploy guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and around 15,000 personnel to support the mission.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper described the operation as a “defensive measure aimed at safeguarding regional stability and the global economy, while maintaining a naval blockade.”
Source: Iranian media (translated and edited by Al-Manar)