[49224] Escalation in the Gulf: US launches the "Freedom Project" and Iran threatens an attack
The tension in the Strait of Hormuz: US and Iran head-to-head
On Monday, May 4, 2026, tension in the Persian Gulf escalated significantly with the start of the "Freedom Project" operation by the US Central Command. According to Al Jazeera, the operation is designed to ensure the freedom of navigation for commercial vessels and is supported by 15,000 troops, over 100 aircraft, and missile destroyers. The operation was launched against the backdrop of reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) regarding an attack on an oil tanker using "unidentified projectiles" north of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
On the other hand, Iran responded with sharp threats. Iran's "Khatam al-Anbiya" Headquarters emphasized that "any foreign force, and especially the American military, will be attacked if it approaches or attempts to enter the Strait of Hormuz." According to reports from Al Mayadeen channel - a media outlet identified with the Resistance Axis - Tehran views any American intervention as a "violation of the ceasefire," with Iranian officials clarifying that passage through the strait must be carried out in full coordination with the Iranian forces overseeing the region.
While Axios reports that the US operation focuses on providing information on safe routes and does not necessarily include direct military escort, the 'Al-Mayadeen' network presents the move as a cover for a political and economic goal of the US. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament member Ebrahim Azizi declared that "the Strait of Hormuz and the waters of the Gulf will not be managed by imaginary posts of the American President."
On the ground, the 'Shehab' agency cited an Iranian warning that the US and its allies should beware of "irreversible regret." The 'Sputnik' agency in Arabic notes that the region is currently defined as being at a "critical" threat level, with both powers preparing for a potential confrontation in the strategic maritime space.