Overview
- Project Freedom, which began Monday, is a U.S. effort to coordinate safe passages for commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz rather than provide direct Navy escorts, according to CENTCOM and U.S. officials.
- U.S. commanders said they intercepted Iranian missiles and drones and disabled six small boats while facilitating transits, but Iran denied any successful crossings and said it fired warning shots near U.S. destroyers.
- A South Korean cargo vessel reported an onboard explosion and fire while anchored near the strait, Seoul confirmed, with no deaths reported as authorities investigate what sparked the blast.
- Iranian officials warned that any U.S. move in the waterway violates the April ceasefire, while the White House envoy said talks continue and Pakistan is passing messages after the U.S. rejected a 14‑point Iranian plan.
- Energy analysts say keeping Hormuz closed could drain global fuel stocks by June and push prices much higher, and a small June output rise agreed by some OPEC+ members is unlikely to offset a chokepoint that carries about one‑fifth of world‑traded oil.