The Iranian Armed Forces on Monday warned the U.S. it would attack forces that intend to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S. President Donald Trump launched ‘Project Freedom’ to help escort vessels stranded in the Gulf out of the Middle East.
President Trump on Sunday announced that "Project Freedom" would begin on Monday morning, Middle Eastern time. The project will involve the U.S. guiding stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump emphasized that the stranded ships would be from "areas of the world that are not in any way involved" with the conflict in the Middle East.
Oil prices were under pressure following Trump's original announcement, but then started to climb after Iran made clear that it would attack any forces that approached the Strait. At the time of writing, Brent had climbed 1.52% to trade at $109.80, while WTI was up 1.56% at 103.50.
“The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin supporting Project Freedom, May 4, to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” the command said shortly after President Trump announced the launch of Project Freedom.
“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.
U.S. military support to Project Freedom will include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members, CENTCOM said.
On Monday morning Middle Eastern time, just as Project Freedom came into effect, Iran’s military warned the U.S. forces to steer clear of the Strait of Hormuz.
“We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive U.S. army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz,” Ali Abdollahi, the head of the forces’ unified command, said in the statement carried by Reuters.
“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,” Abdollahi added.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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