US war latest: Tehran threatens to attack US forces in Strait of Hormuz after Trump vows to help stranded ships

The US president threatened new strikes if Iran ‘misbehaves’
Iran has warned it will attack any US boats that enter the Strait of Hormuz after Donald Trump vowed to free commercial ships stranded in the waterway.

Its forces would "respond harshly" to any threat, it added, warning that “any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked” if they approach the Strait.

Trump had pledged to guide ships out of the “restricted waterway” from Monday morning as part of “Project Freedom”.

The US president said it would be a “humanitarian gesture” intended to “free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong”, who he called “victims of circumstance”.

However, Ibrahim Azizi, a senior Iranian lawmaker, has warned that US involvement in managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would constitute a violation of the ceasefire.

Trump said the operation came as the US held “very positive discussions” with Iran, who reportedly issued the US president a one-month deadline for negotiations on its proposed deal to reopen the strait and bring an end to the war.

Iran condemns UAE's exit from OPEC as 'vengeful'
Any exit from OPEC as a "negative or vengeful reaction toward members is not constructive," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.

The United Arab Emirates said last week it will leave OPEC effective 1 May, stripping the oil cartel of its third-largest producer and further weakening its leverage over global oil supplies and prices.

Mr Baghaei added Iran would retain its commitments within OPEC and blamed the UAE for demonstrating "inappropriate behaviour" in assisting Israel and the US during the war against it.

US navy will be attacked if it enters Strait of Hormuz - Iran
As we earlier reported, Iran has warned the US against entering the Strait of Hormuz, after Donald Trump said his navy would begin to free stranded commercial ships in the waterway.

We can now bring you more from Iranian officials.

Tehran’s forces would "respond harshly" to any threat, it said, ordering commercial ships and oil tankers to refrain from any movement in the absence of coordination with Iran's military.

"We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces," Ali Abdollahi, the head of the forces' unified command, said in the statement.

"We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz."
Nato countries have 'gotten message' from Trump, says Rutte
European nations have "gotten the message" from Donald Trump and are now ensuring that agreements on the use of military bases are being implemented, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said on Monday.

Trump has accused some Nato nations of not doing enough to support the United States in the Iran war, and announced on Friday plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.

"Yes, there has been some disappointment from the US side, but Europeans have listened," Mr Rutte told reporters at a European Political Community summit in Armenia.

"They are now making sure that all the bilateral basing agreements are being implemented," he said.

Nato member Spain has said that military bases on its territory cannot be used for the war with Iran.

But Mr Rutte said other Nato countries such as Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Britain, France and Germany were implementing requests for the use of bases and other logistical support.

Israel issues evacuation threat in Lebanon
The Israeli military has ordered residents to evacuate the municipalities of Qana, Debaal, Qaaqaait al-Jisr and Srifa in southern Lebanon.

Those asked to flee must move at least 1,000m away from their residences to open areas, the Israeli military said this morning.

The warning comes after reports that Israeli forces bombed the towns of Khiam and Qantara overnight.

Israeli forces also dropped flares over Braachit during the night and shelled the outskirts of the towns of Safad El Battikh, Yater, Majdel Selm, and Chaitiyeh, according to state media.

US evacuates 22 crew members on seized Iranian ship to Pakistan
The US has evacuated 22 crew members held aboard an Iranian container vessel to Pakistan and will hand them over to Iranian authorities on Monday, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.

The ministry described the move as a "confidence-building measure".

"The Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs," the ministry said in a statement.

il prices held steady after US president Donald Trump said the US would help ships leave the Strait of Hormuz, starting on Monday.

Iran has rejected the plan, but Trump also said talks with Iran could lead to positive outcomes.

A statement from the US Central Command said support would include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land- and sea-based aircraft and 15,000 service members.

A report from Axios later claimed the Navy would not necessarily escort ships through the strait.

Oil prices hold steady after Trump says US to help ships leave Strait of Hormuz
U.S.-led task force tells ships to reroute on first day of new effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
The United States kicked off an effort to “guide” stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz, as it tries to counter economic disruptions that outlasted the peak of fighting with no peace deal in sight.

A day after U.S.

President Donald Trump announced what he called “Project Freedom,” the Joint Maritime Information Center said Monday that the U.S.

had set up an “enhanced security area” south of typical shipping routes and urged mariners to coordinate closely with Omani authorities “due to anticipated high traffic volume.” The strait sits between Iranian and Omani territory.

US to use 15,000 troops in 'Project Freeom' mission
We’ve had an update from US Central Command (Centcom) on how Donald Trump’ “Project Freedom” will free ships from the Strait of Hormuz.

Centcom will support Project Freedom from Monday, to “restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz”, it said in a statement on Sunday.

The US will use 15,000 troops in the mission, alongside guided-missile destroyers and more than 100 aircraft.

"Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade," Admiral Brad Cooper said.

Iran warns US navy against entering Strait of Hormuz
Iranian forces have warned the US against entering the Strait of Hormuz, after the US announced it would begin an effort on Monday to free ships stranded in the waterway.

A statement from the unified command of Iran's armed forces, reported in Iranian media, said it has “repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces”.

Iranian and Pakistani foreign ministers speak on phone
Pakistani foreign ⁠minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held ⁠a ​telephone ⁠conversation ⁠with Iranian ​counterpart ⁠Seyed ‌Abbas Araqchi last night, ‌where both ‌parties discussed ⁠the regional situation and Pakistan's ongoing diplomatic efforts, Islamabad said this morning.

Araghchi "appreciated Pakistan for the constructive role and sincere mediation efforts between the parties”, the ministry said in a post on X.

It said Dar "reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued commitment to promoting constructive engagement and underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path toward peaceful resolution of issues and achieving lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond".

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