U.S. Launches ‘Project Liberty’ as Iran Tightens Grip on Hormuz, Setting Up a Contest of Claims

Overview

• CENTCOM said Monday that two U.S.-flagged merchant ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz under the new Project Liberty, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said no commercial vessel passed.
• The U.S. military said destroyers entered the Gulf and that its forces sank six small Iranian boats and shot down missiles and drones that threatened traffic, claims Iran denied on state media.
• Iran published a new map marking red lines it says define areas under its military control and warned it will attack any foreign armed force that tries to enter without coordination.
• The Iranian parliament is advancing a bill to restrict passage, including a ban on Israeli ships and war-compensation payments from vessels of countries it deems hostile.
• Most commercial traffic remains halted despite the U.S. move, with Brent crude up about 5% to roughly $113–$114 and industry groups reporting hundreds of ships and up to 20,000 mariners stuck or rerouted.