Arabic version: ترامب يحذر إيران مع تصاعد التوترات في مضيق هرمز
US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it attacks United States ships as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz push the truce between the two countries to the brink. Hostilities were renewed in the region on Monday as Iran attacked the United Arab Emirates, and Trump said the US military shot down seven small Iranian boats near Hormuz. According to Al Jazeera, Trump’s rhetoric emphasizes Washington’s military capabilities, with the president asserting, “We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before.”
The US military began implementing on Monday a Trump plan – dubbed Project Freedom – to guide ships through Hormuz and break the Iranian blockade on the strategic shipping lanes. Washington said it helped two US merchant vessels through the strait, but ship-tracking websites show traffic through the waterway remains largely suspended. Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), said vessels stranded in the area belong to 87 countries that are “innocent bystanders” in the conflict.
The situation intensified further when a South Korean ship was reportedly attacked near the UAE, resulting in an explosion and fire. Trump cited the attack on the South Korean ship to urge Seoul to join his campaign. He stated, “Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement,” highlighting the need for international support against Iranian aggression.
Despite US assurances of protection for vessels in the Strait, global energy prices continue to soar, with gas prices in the US rising from less than $3 to more than $4.45 per gallon since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28. The Iranian government, meanwhile, maintains that control of the Strait of Hormuz remains firmly in its hands, warning of targeted responses to any further aggression.
The UAE has condemned Iran’s recent attacks, with its Defence Ministry reporting that UAE forces engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four drones. The UAE Foreign Ministry asserted that the country will not tolerate threats to its sovereignty and reserves the right to respond to unprovoked attacks. An Iranian official claimed that the attacks were a reaction to US military actions, stating that the US must be held accountable for its provocations in the region.
