Trump Threatens to 'Blow Iran Off Face of Earth' as US Launches Project Freedom in Hormuz

Key facts

• Trump threatened Iran will be 'blown off the face of the earth' if it attacks US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
• US launched 'Project Freedom' on Monday to guide hundreds of trapped ships out of the Gulf.
• US military claimed to have destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted cruise missiles and drones; Iran denied.
• Iran claimed to have struck a US frigate with two missiles; US Central Command denied any ship was hit.
• Two US-flagged merchant vessels crossed the strait on Monday under US Navy protection, Maersk confirmed.
• UAE air defences engaged 15 Iranian missiles and four drones; a fire broke out at Fujairah Oil Industry Zone after a drone attack.
• Two people were injured in Bukha, Oman, by an attack on a residential building, Omani state media reported.
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of funding Iran and urged Beijing to help reopen the strait.

Trump’s Ultimatum and the Launch of Project Freedom

President Donald Trump threatened that Iran will be “blown off the face of the earth” if it attacks US vessels attempting to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The warning came as the United States launched a military operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” on Monday to help hundreds of ships stranded with their crews in the Gulf, dragging the region to the brink of full-scale war. Tehran has reasserted its blockade of the strait, while the US military claimed to have destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted both Iranian cruise missiles and drones. Iran denied those claims. Earlier, Iran’s military central command warned it would strike any US naval vessel approaching the strait and claimed to have struck a US frigate in the area with two missiles. US Central Command denied that any US Navy ships had been hit, stating that US forces were continuing to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

US Ships Cross the Strait as Maersk Confirms Safe Passage

US Central Command said that two US-flagged merchant vessels crossed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday as US Navy guided-missile destroyers operated in the Gulf. Shipping company Maersk later confirmed that one of its US-flagged commercial vessels had successfully exited the strait under US military protection. The operation marks the first tangible success of Project Freedom, though hundreds of ships remain trapped. The US military’s ability to secure passage for these vessels underscores its claim of “absolute control” over the waterway, a phrase used by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. However, the continued blockade by Iran and the exchange of fire indicate that control is contested.

UAE and Oman Hit by Iranian Barrages

its air defences engaged 15 Iranian missiles and four drones in a fresh barrage on Monday. Fujairah had earlier said a fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, the largest oil storage zone in the UAE, following what it described as a drone attack originating from Iran. The attack threatens one of the world’s most critical energy infrastructure hubs. In neighbouring Oman, two people were injured by an attack on a residential building in Bukha, along the coastline of the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Omani state news agency. The strikes on two Gulf states, both of which are not direct belligerents, signal a widening of the conflict beyond the US-Iran confrontation.

Bessent Accuses China of Funding Iran, Calls for Diplomatic Help

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of “funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism,” referring to Iran, and called on Beijing to help Washington reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China has been buying 90 percent of their energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism,” Bessent told Fox News. Despite the accusation, Bessent urged China to join the US campaign. “The attacks from Iran have closed the strait. We are reopening it. So I would urge the Chinese to join us in supporting this international operation,” he said. Bessent added that the US has “absolute control” of the strait but suggested China should use its leverage over Iran to help resolve the crisis. “Let’s see them step up with some diplomacy and get the Iranians to open the strait,” he said.

China and Russia Block UN Resolution, Ambassador Cites Bias

Bessent noted that China and Russia have vetoed efforts to condemn the Iranian blockade of Hormuz at the United Nations Security Council. Beijing and Moscow blocked a UN draft resolution over Hormuz earlier this month, arguing that it was one-sided and only denounced Tehran without addressing US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong said the draft “failed to capture the root causes and the full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner.” The diplomatic deadlock at the UN leaves the crisis without a multilateral framework for de-escalation, as Trump’s expected visit to Beijing next week looms. Bessent’s blunt criticism of China’s relations with Iran comes ahead of that meeting, where Trump is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Stakes Escalate as Full-Scale War Looms

The confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz has escalated from a blockade to direct military exchanges, with both sides trading fire and claims of strikes. Trump’s threat to annihilate Iran if it attacks US vessels raises the stakes to a level not seen since the height of tensions in previous years. The US operation to free trapped ships, while initially successful, faces the risk of a broader conflagration if Iran retaliates with more sophisticated attacks. The involvement of the UAE and Oman as targets, along with the diplomatic rift with China, complicates the picture. The international community watches as the world’s most important oil chokepoint remains partially closed, threatening global energy markets. The coming days, including Trump’s visit to Beijing, will determine whether diplomacy or further military action prevails.

The bottom line

• Trump threatened to annihilate Iran if it attacks US vessels, as Project Freedom begins.
• US military claims to have destroyed Iranian boats and missiles; Iran denies and claims to have struck a US frigate.
• Two US-flagged ships successfully crossed the strait under US protection; hundreds remain trapped.
• UAE and Oman came under Iranian attack, widening the conflict beyond US-Iran.
• Treasury Secretary Bessent accused China of funding Iran and called for Beijing’s diplomatic help.
• China and Russia vetoed a UN resolution on Hormuz, citing bias, ahead of Trump’s visit to Beijing.