Iran threatens to attack U.S. forces in Strait of Hormuz after Trump launches mission to guide ships

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Foreign forces “will be subjected to attack” if they approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s military command warned Monday.

May 4, 2026, 4:45 AM EDT

Iran warned the United States on Monday not to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz as the American military launches a new effort to “guide” stranded ships through the critical waterway.

President Donald Trump announced that starting Monday morning the U.S. military would help free ships that have been “locked up” and unable to transit the key trade route amid the maritime standoff between Tehran and Washington.

It’s the latest bid to break Iran’s stranglehold over the strait, which has left global shipping at an effective standstill and sent energy prices spiraling.

Iran quickly pushed back.

The strait’s security remains under the control of Iran’s armed forces and any safe passage must be carried out in coordination with Tehran, Iran’s military command cautioned.

“We warn that any foreign armed force, especially the aggressive military of America should they intend to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz, will be subjected to attack,” Major General Pilot Ali Abdollahi said in a statement carried by state TV channel IRIB.

He added that “any aggressive action” by the U.S. to disrupt the situation will result in “nothing but further complication and jeopardizing the security of vessels in this area.”

Vehicles drive past a billboard with graphic showing Strait of Hormuz and sewn lips of President Trump in Tehran, Iran on May 2, 2026. — Vehicles pass a billboard in Tehran on Saturday which appears to show the sewn lips of Trump covered in a ribbon shaped to represent the Strait of Hormuz.Vahid Salemi / AP

In a lengthy TruthSocial post late Sunday, Trump said the U.S. will “guide ships” of countries not involved in the Middle East crisis safely out of the strait, “so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”

Trump added that what he dubbed “Project Freedom” would begin Monday morning Middle East time, but it was not clear when the operation would formally begin.

U.S. Central Command, which has been enforcing Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports, said that 15,000 service members, guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft and multi-domain unmanned platforms will be involved in the new operation.

The Joint Maritime Information Center said that the U.S. has established an “enhanced security area” to the south of usual shipping routes to support transit.

It said vessels should consider routing via Oman territorial waters as usual routes should be considered “extremely hazardous due the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated.”

It was not immediately clear whether any ships had begun using the route or the U.S. mission.

India Tanker Desh Garima Unloads Crude Amid Hormuz Supply Disruptions — India-flagged tanker Desh Garima unloads crude oil in Mumbai after transiting the Strait of Hormuz on April 30.Indranil Aditya / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Hundreds of ships and their crew have been stranded in the area since Iran launched attacks and threatened shipping in the wake of the joint U.S.-Israeli assault more than two months ago.

Many of these crews are running low on food and other necessities, Trump said, calling his move to free them up a “humanitarian gesture” by the U.S.

Two ships were attacked in the strait this weekend, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said.

Trump’s announcement came hours after Iran said it was reviewing the U.S. response to its latest proposal to end the war, though neither side has offered much optimism about moving beyond the current ceasefire.

Mediator Pakistan said Monday that it had facilitated the transfer of 22 Iranian sailors from the “Touska” container ship seized by U.S. forces last month. It described the move as a “confidence-building measure.”

The sailors were flown to Pakistan on Sunday night, a statement from the country’s foreign ministry said, and will be handed over to Iranian authorities. The ship will be taken to Pakistani territorial waters, the statement added, to be returned to its original owners after necessary repairs.

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