President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. “shot down” seven small Iranian military boats in the Strait of Hormuz, while military officials said Iranian missiles and drones were also downed—putting the status of the indefinite ceasefire in doubt.
In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on May 4, 2026, vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. (Photo by Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images) /
ISNA/AFP via Getty Images
Trump said “Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations” to challenge the U.S. naval blockade, including a South Korean cargo ship, he wrote on Truth Social, urging South Korea to “come and join the mission” to secure the strait.
Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, also told reporters Monday the U.S. Navy shot down Iranian missiles and drones fired at vessels in the strait.
The United Arab Emirates said Monday it intercepted three missiles from Iran, while a fourth landed in the ocean.
The UAE also said Monday Iran targeted an oil tanker belonging to its state-owned oil company, ADNOC, with two drones as it passed through the strait.
The exchange of fire comes after Trump on Sunday announced the U.S. would help guide boats through the strait, dubbing the effort “Project Freedom.” U.S. Central Command on Monday claimed two merchant ships safely passed through the strait, but offered few details.
Trump said “Project Freedom” was designed to free ships associated with countries that are neutral in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran and are “victims of circumstance.” Trump called it a “humanitarian gesture” and warned any “interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
The U.S. and Iran entered into a ceasefire on April 7 that was extended indefinitely as the parties negotiate a permanent end to the war. Control over the strait continues to be a barrier, with Iran demanding it should maintain sovereignty over the strait and the U.S. demanding Iran reopen it. Iran has accused the U.S. naval blockade of the strait of violating the ceasefire and appeared to launch the strikes Monday on the UAE and vessels in the strait in retaliation for Trump’s “Project Freedom.”
2 U.S. Merchant Ships Traveled Safely Through Strait Of Hormuz, U.S. Military Says (Forbes)
US Denies Reports Of Navy Ship Being Struck As Iran Threatens Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ (Forbes)
Trump says the U.S will 'guide' stranded ships from the Strait of Hormuz (Associated Press)
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