FLASH
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Iran said on Monday afternoon that it had fired two missiles at a US warship near the Strait of Hormuz, saying it had prevented it from entering the area.
According to the Iranian news agency Fars News, the incident occurred near Jask Island when the US destroyer ignored warnings from Iranian authorities. The ship was reportedly hit by two missiles, which then left the area.
At the same time, the Iranian navy claimed, via state television, that it had prevented US warships from entering the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, however, a senior American source cited by Axios' Barack Ravid denied that there was an American ship that had been hit by Iranian missiles in the area.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) also denied this news.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the US would begin "safely" removing ships from the critical waterway, calling the move a "humanitarian gesture" as many of the ships are reportedly facing food shortages.
US Central Command said it would support the operation with 15,000 troops, more than 100 land and sea aircraft, as well as warships and drones.
The Revolutionary Guards have meanwhile published a new map of the areas in the Strait of Hormuz that they claim are under the control of their navy, according to the local Fars news agency. This area extends westward from a line between the westernmost tip of Qeshm Island and the United Arab Emirates emirate of Umm al-Quwain. In the east, it reaches a line connecting Mount Mubarak with the emirate of Fujairah. It is not clear to what extent this zone of control differs from previous ones.
Revolutionary Guard warnings about sailing
At the same time, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Sardar Mohebbi said that any ship that does not adhere to the management procedure imposed by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz "will be stopped by force."
"There has been no change in the procedure for managing the Strait of Hormuz. Any maritime movement of civilian and commercial vessels that follows the Guard's maritime transit protocols and is carried out in coordination through the designated route will be safe ," he said.
On the contrary, as he warned, any further movement that deviates from the guidelines "will face serious risks", while ships that violate the rules "will be forcibly stopped" .
He called on shipping companies and insurance companies to take his announcements seriously.
New threats to foreign countries
Meanwhile, Iran's top military commander, Ali Abdullah Salehi, warned foreign navies not to enter the Strait of Hormuz to escort commercial ships.
Chief of General Staff Khatam al-Anbiya accused the United States of destabilization, arguing that the actions of the United States and Israel have endangered the global economy and trade following the attacks on Iran on February 28.
"America's supporters should be careful and not take actions that will lead to irreparable consequences," he said, warning that any attempt to change the situation would worsen the crisis and jeopardize the safety of shipping in the region.
Previously, US President Donald Trump announced the launch of an operation called "Project Freedom", at the request of countries whose ships are blocked in the Strait, with the aim of safely removing them from the area.
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