Iran warns to ‘respond harshly’ over Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ in Strait of Hormuz

Hours after President Donald Trump announced the “Project Freedom” mission in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to escort merchant ships, Iran issued a stern warning to the US in response to its interference in the strait.

Iranian state media on Monday reported that Tehran threatens to “respond harshly” if the US Navy tries to enter the Strait of Hormuz in a statement coming from the unified command of Iran’s armed forces.

"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," Ali Abdollahi, the head of the forces' unified command, said in the statement as reported by Reuters.

"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."

On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth social, stating, “I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait. This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time.”

He added, "If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully."

The US Central Command the defensive mission will include 15,000 military personnel, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft along with warships and drones, aiming to “protect regional security and the global economy.”

Later, on Monday, According to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, two US military officials stated that the operation may not involve US Navy ships providing direct escorts for commercial vessels.

In fact, the US will only provide information related assistance to the best maritime lanes “in the strait especially when it comes to using lanes that were not mined by the Iranian military.”

According to the International Maritime Organization, around hundreds of ships and as many as 20,000 seafarers have been stranded.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says the maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains critical due to ongoing military operations. Earlier a tanker off the coast of Fujairah in the UAE was “hit by unknown projectiles”.