Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have issued an emergency missile alert and urged residents to seek shelter immediately.
The alert was issued shortly after the United States military announced that two merchant ships had transited the Strait of Hormuz.
There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage, and an all-clear signal was later sent.
This is a breaking news update. The AP’s previous story is below.
The US military on Monday denied claims that Iran attacked a navy ship as the US military now offers guidance to commercial ships strait of hormuzwhere hundreds of people are stranded iran war began. Over the past two months, Tehran has attacked some ships and blocked others that do not have its authorization.
US military Central Command also said two US-flagged merchant ships “have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz” and Navy guided missile destroyers are helping to restore commercial shipping traffic in the Persian Gulf.
The statement on the X said the destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz “in support of Project Freedom” and that the merchant ships “are safely proceeding on their voyage.” It did not mention when the naval ships arrived or when the merchant ships departed.
Iranian news agencies, including the semi-official Fars and Iranian Labor News Agency, earlier claimed that Iran had attacked a US ship near an Iranian port in the southeast of the strait, and accused it of “violating maritime safety and navigation norms”. Reports said the ship was forced to turn back.
US Central Command said on social media that “no US Navy ships have been attacked.”
American Army said new initiative, President Donald Trump announced On Sunday, it was expected to include guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members, but did not specify what type of assistance it would provide. The US-led Joint Maritime Information Center advised ships to transit the strait into Omani waters, saying it had established an “enhanced security zone”.
It was unclear whether shipping companies and their insurers would feel comfortable taking the risk, given that Iran has fired on ships in the waterway and has vowed to continue doing so.
Responding to America’s new effort, Iran has described it as a violation of the fragile ceasefire that has been going on for more than three weeks.
Iran’s control of traffic through an artery vital to significant amounts of the world’s oil and gas supplies has proven to be a strategic advantage in a war with the US and Israel, which could inflict tremendous pain on Tehran. global economy Despite being defeated on the battlefield.
Trump’s announcement that the US would “guide” the ships through the strait prompted warnings that Iranian efforts to stop them “will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with with force.”
He described in humanitarian terms “Project Freedom”, which was created to aid sailors stranded in the Persian Gulf since the war began, many of whom were on oil tankers or cargo ships. gangs The Associated Press is told Watching drones and missiles explode over the water as their ships run out of drinking water, food and other supplies.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency described “Project Freedom” as part of Trump’s “babble”.
Iran’s military command said on Monday that passing ships would have to coordinate with them.
Major General Pilot Ali Abdullahi told state broadcaster IRIB, “We warn that any foreign military force – especially aggressive US forces – that intends to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted.”
The Joint Maritime Information Center urged seafarers to coordinate closely with Omani authorities “due to the anticipated high traffic volumes”. It warned that passing close to normal routes, known as a traffic separation scheme, “should be considered extremely dangerous due to the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated.”
But the security chief of the leading shipping trade group, the Baltic and International Maritime Council, said no formal guidance or details about the US effort had been issued to the industry. Jacob Larsson questioned whether the effort was sustainable in the long term or saw it as a more limited operation, and said there was a “risk of re-igniting hostilities” if it proceeded.
At the same time, the United Arab Emirates on Monday accused Iran of targeting a tanker belonging to its main oil company with two drones while passing through the strait. It was not told when the attack took place. There is no report of anyone being injured.
The disruption of the waterway has hit countries in Europe and Asia that depend on Persian Gulf oil and gas, sending prices higher than ever before. Area.
Trump has promised to lower gas prices as he faces midterm elections this year.
The US has warned shipping companies they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for transit through the strait. US Central Command said on Sunday it had imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports since April 13, asking 49 commercial vessels to return.
The blockade has deprived Tehran of essential oil revenues. prop up our ailing economy.
US officials have expressed hope that the blockade will force Iran back to the negotiating table.
“We think they got less than $1.3 million in tolls, which is a lot less on their previous daily oil revenues,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant told Fox News on Sunday. He said Iran’s oil storage is filling rapidly and “they will have to start shutting down wells, which we think could happen in the next week.”
According to the semi-official Nour News and Tasnim agencies, which have close ties to Iran’s security organizations, Iran’s latest 14-point proposal to end the war was made public over the weekend, calling on the US to lift sanctions, end the US naval blockade, withdraw troops from the region and cease all hostilities, including Israel’s operations in Lebanon.
Iranian officials said they were reviewing the US response, although Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai told reporters on Monday that the changing demands, which he did not elaborate on, had made diplomacy difficult.
Iran has claimed that its proposal does not include issues related to its nuclear program. enriched uranium – long a driving force in tensions with the US and Israel.
Iran’s proposal seeks to resolve other issues within 30 days and is aimed at ending the war rather than pushing for a ceasefire. Trump said Saturday that he was reviewing the proposal but expressed doubt that it would lead to a compromise.
Pakistan on Monday said it has facilitated the transfer of 22 crew members from an Iranian ship seized earlier by the US, a move described as a confidence-building measure as Islamabad attempts to revive talks. Pakistan hosted face-to-face talks last month.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the crew members aboard the Iranian container ship MV Tauska were evacuated to Pakistan overnight. It was expected that he would be handed over to Iranian authorities.
The ministry said the ship will be towed to Pakistani territorial waters for necessary repairs before being returned to its original owners, adding that the process is being coordinated with the support of Iran and the US.
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Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Munir Ahmed contributed from Islamabad, Pakistan.
