Trump Warns Iran Will Be 'Blown Off the Face of the Earth' as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Escalates

Key facts

• President Donald Trump launched 'Project Freedom' on May 4 to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran's military claimed to have struck a US frigate with two missiles; US Central Command denied any US ships were hit.
• UAE air defenses engaged 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles, and 4 drones from Iran, resulting in three moderate injuries.
• A fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone after a drone attack originating from Iran.
• Two people were injured in Bukha, Oman, by an attack on a residential building along the Strait of Hormuz coastline.
• Admiral Brad Cooper said US forces destroyed six small Iranian boats; Iran denied the claim.
• a fire on its vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, now extinguished, with no casualties.

Ceasefire Unravels as US and Iran Trade Strikes

A four-week-old ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared on the verge of collapse Monday after President Donald Trump launched a naval operation to break Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates and a US counterstrike that destroyed Iranian boats. Trump, in a Fox News interview, warned that Iran would be 'blown off the face of the earth' if it targets US ships protecting commercial vessels. The escalation came less than a day after Trump announced 'Project Freedom,' an attempt to free ships stranded by Iran's de facto blockade of the strategic waterway.

Project Freedom Triggers Iranian Show of Force

Trump announced the new mission on social media overnight, aiming to use US naval power to unblock the world's most important energy shipping route. But the gamble initially appeared to backfire, bringing no surge of merchant traffic while provoking a show of force from Iran. The US military said two US-flagged merchant vessels crossed through the strait on Monday, but Iran denied any such crossings had taken place. Shipping company Maersk later confirmed that one of its US-flagged commercial vessels had successfully exited the strait under US military protection.

Iran Strikes UAE and Oman, Hits Oil Port

The UAE Defence Ministry said its air defenses engaged 15 Iranian missiles and four drones in a fresh barrage on Monday, later specifying that they intercepted 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four drones, with three people suffering moderate injuries. A fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, the largest oil storage zone in the UAE, following what authorities described as a drone attack originating from Iran. In neighboring 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.

US and Iran Trade Claims Over Naval Engagements

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US forces in the region, said his fleet destroyed six small Iranian boats that were attempting to interfere with commercial shipping movements. Trump later said in a Truth Social post that the US shot down seven small Iranian boats, adding that the vessels were 'all they (Iran) have left.' Iran's state media denied that its boats had been sunk. Earlier, Iran's military central command claimed to have struck a US frigate in the area with two missiles, a claim US Central Command denied, stating that no US Navy ships had been hit.

Iran Expands Claimed Control Zone, Warns Against 'Quagmire'

Iranian authorities released a map showing an expanded sea area now under their control, extending far beyond the strait to include long stretches of the UAE's coastline. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said events in the Strait of Hormuz demonstrated there was no military solution to the crisis, adding that talks were making progress with Pakistan's mediation. He warned the US and the UAE against being drawn into a 'quagmire by ill-wishers.' Trump, in a Truth Social post, also claimed that a South Korean cargo ship had come under fire from Iran, writing, 'Perhaps it's time for South Korea to come and join the mission!'

South Korean Ship Hit, Oil Prices Surge

one of its merchant ships suffered an explosion and fire inside the strait. South Korean shipper HMM said on Tuesday that the fire on its vessel had been extinguished and that the ship would be towed to a nearby port in Dubai, with no casualties reported. Stock market indices closed sharply lower and oil prices rose on Monday, as investors' fears grew that the war's impact on the global economy could be exacerbated or prolonged.

Ceasefire Hangs by a Thread as Trump Avoids Declaring Violation

Despite the hostilities, Trump avoided saying that the ceasefire with Iran — which he announced on April 7 and later extended unilaterally — had been violated.peaking with the president by phone. The ceasefire, which began on April 8, had already been shaky, and Monday's events imperil it further. The UAE's Defence Ministry confirmed that its air defenses were actively dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran, with sounds heard across the country resulting from interception efforts.

The bottom line

• Trump's 'Project Freedom' aimed to break Iran's Strait of Hormuz blockade but triggered a major escalation, including Iranian strikes on the UAE and Oman.
• US forces destroyed six or seven Iranian boats, while Iran denied losses and claimed to have struck a US frigate — a claim denied by US Central Command.
• Iran expanded its claimed control zone in the Gulf, extending along the UAE coastline, and warned against foreign intervention.
• The UAE suffered a drone attack on its largest oil storage zone and intercepted multiple missiles and drones, with three injuries reported.
• A South Korean cargo ship caught fire in the strait; the fire was extinguished with no casualties, and the vessel will be towed to Dubai.
• Global markets reacted negatively, with stock indices falling and oil prices rising amid fears of prolonged conflict.