WASHINGTON: The United States military said on Monday that guided-missile destroyers have entered the Arabian Gulf as part of a mission to escort commercial ships through the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway.
The warships “are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X, referring to the operation announced by US President Donald Trump on Sunday.
“American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping,” CENTCOM said.
The US military added that “two US-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey.”
U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom. American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping. As a first step, 2 U.S.-flagged merchant… pic.twitter.com/SVDxDhK72I
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 4, 2026
Tehran’s forces effectively closed the strait, a key route for oil and gas shipments, in response to the US-Israeli military campaign that began on February 28, while Washington is maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports.
Trump has indefinitely extended the initial two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan that brought a halt to the fighting, but the conflict — and its widespread economic fallout — remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that Iran had prevented a US Navy destroyer from entering the Strait of Hormuz.
The reports included a claim from the Iranian military that it hit an American ship with two missiles, near Bandar-e-Jask on the Iranian coast.
Rapor: İran’ın uyarılarını görmezden gelen ABD donanma gemisine iki füze isabet ettihttps://t.co/vZp79ZIzQ2 pic.twitter.com/JHNf6OR5wg
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) May 4, 2026
However, soon after, US Central Command (CENTCOM) put out a statement, rejecting the Iranian media claims.
CENTCOM said no US ships had been struck and that US forces were supporting the operation, “and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports”
🚫 CLAIM: Iranian state media claims that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hit a U.S. warship with two missiles.
✅ TRUTH: No U.S. Navy ships have been struck. U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports. pic.twitter.com/VFxovxLU6G
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 4, 2026
The Iranian military earlier claimed that it had prevented a US Navy destroyer from entering the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said a vessel was hit by two missiles as it was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz “in violation of traffic and shipping security”.
On Sunday, Trump announced plans for the US to “guide” stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. Dubbed “Project Freedom”.
In a Truth Social post, the US president said the operation would begin “Monday morning, Middle East time”.
US Central Command said it would support the action with 15,000 personnel, guided-missile destroyers and more than 100 aircraft.
Trump has threatened to deal “forcefully” with any “interference” with the operation.
