The situation in the Persian Gulf has sharply escalated amid renewed military action between the United States and Iran.
The United States announced that it had destroyed several small Iranian military boats. President Donald Trump said that American forces had “hit” at least seven ships, although earlier senior American military officials had spoken of six ships.
Iran, in turn, categorically denied the information, reporting on state television that there had been no such losses.
On the same day, the United Arab Emirates announced that it had been subjected to missile and drone attacks, assessing them as a serious escalation of the conflict by Iran and emphasizing its right to take retaliatory measures. It was also reported that one of the oil infrastructures was damaged as a result of the strikes.
The incidents followed the entry of American naval forces into the Strait of Hormuz. Their goal was to ensure the safe passage of merchant ships blocked there. The Strait is considered one of the most important routes for the transportation of global energy resources and has remained virtually closed since large-scale military operations began in the region, involving the United States and its allies.
During the day, several commercial vessels reported explosions and fires. Trump also announced that Iran had attacked ships of countries not directly involved in the conflict, specifically mentioning a South Korean ship. He called on international partners to intensify their participation and support the security of trade in the region, emphasizing that “it is time for South Korea to join this mission.”
At the same time, Trump presented his new initiative, called “Project Freedom,” but did not disclose its details. The president declared that the war is “over.” However, this claim is disputed by several members of the US Congress, who emphasize the ongoing nature of the military operations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, responding to the developments, noted that recent events show there is no military solution to the crisis. According to him, peace talks are continuing under Pakistan’s mediation, and he warned the US and the UAE not to escalate the conflict. “The ‘Freedom Project’ is actually a ‘Dead End Project,'” he wrote on social media.
