The United States military reported on Monday that it had fired on Iranian forces and sank six small boats targeting civilian ships as it moved to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran sought to reassert its blockade of the strategic waterway.
Donald Trump warned that Iran would be 'blown off the face of the earth' if it attacked US vessels attempting to reopen the route under a military operation titled Project Freedom. Two American-flagged merchant ships successfully transited the strait as part of the project, the military said.
Iran's military central command claimed to have struck a US frigate with two missiles, a claim denied by US Central Command. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stated there was 'no military solution' to the crisis and warned the US and UAE against being 'dragged back into quagmire'.
In a separate development, Japan took delivery of its first stockpile of oil from Russia since global supplies were choked off by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker carrying crude from the Sakhalin-2 project reached the coast of Imabari in western Japan, according to reports.
The UK and Saudi Arabia called for de-escalation after a barrage of Iranian attacks on the UAE. British PM Keir Starmer urged Iran to 'engage meaningfully in negotiations' to ensure a lasting ceasefire. The International Monetary Fund warned that the global economy could face a 'much worse outcome' if the war drags into 2027 and oil prices hit $125 a barrel.
