WASHINGTON – United States issued dramatic warning to Tehran, saying it will face “overwhelming firepower” if commercial vessels are attacked in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US is not seeking conflict, but warned that Tehran cannot be allowed to block international trade in the vital waterway. He added that the new operation is separate from earlier military efforts and is intended to be temporary.
He said Washington formed 24/7 surveillance system over strait to monitor commercial vessels and ensure safe passage, though Iranian ships are reportedly excluded. According to him, several Iranian vessels were turned back during recent naval activity.
US military officials further accused Iran of threatening commercial shipping in recent weeks, saying such actions are putting global supply chains under pressure. They described Iran’s conduct as an attempt to destabilize trade routes and affect the wider economy.
Washington also framed the mission as partly humanitarian, arguing that keeping sea lanes open helps prevent global shortages and protects vulnerable populations.
Iran pushed back against the US presence in the region, with officials criticizing it as escalation and interference in regional waters.
The escalating standoff comes amid a major US-led naval deployment under “Project Freedom,” aimed at securing global trade routes through one of the world’s most vital oil corridors.
Hegseth said the operation is designed to “break Iran’s illegal stranglehold” over the strait and protect international shipping from what Washington calls Iranian aggression. Speaking at the Pentagon, he stressed that the US is not seeking war but warned that any attack on commercial vessels would trigger a powerful response.
“We’re not looking for a fight,” he said, adding that US forces would ensure safe passage for global trade without needing to enter Iranian airspace or waters. He also rejected Iran’s claims of controlling the strait, stating, “They said they control the strait, they do not.”
In a sharp counter-claim, an unnamed Iranian military official accused the US of “military adventurism,” blaming it for a reported drone strike on an oil refinery in the UAE. The official, speaking to Iranian state media, insisted there was no “planned” Iranian involvement in the attack.
Amid rising tensions and disrupted navigation, the US-led Joint Maritime Information Center has urged ships to use an “enhanced security area” through Oman’s waters. The situation has already sent shockwaves through global energy markets, with oil prices climbing due to fears of supply disruption.
UAE authorities confirmed they have contained a blaze at the Fujairah oil facility, where three injured Indian nationals are being treated. The facility is a key strategic site linked to the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, which transports around 50–60% of UAE oil exports, allowing shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz entirely.
Fujairah facility is critical to global energy flow, as it provides an alternative export route outside the strait. One analyst noted that targeting such infrastructure sends a clear message that even bypass routes are not beyond reach.
Iran, however, has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the Fujairah incident, with conflicting statements emerging from within its own official channels, deepening uncertainty across the region.
