The US military, once near the Strait of Hormuz, will not be able to turn back.

Tehran/Washington, 4 April (Agency). Iran warned the United States on Monday to stay away from the Strait of Hormuz. The statement from Iran came in response to comments made by US President Donald Trump. Trump had said that the US would help free ships trapped in the Gulf due to the Iran-US-Israel war. According to Trump, these ships have been stuck for almost two months and the crew is running out of food and other supplies. Trump has dubbed the move "Project Freedom". On Sunday, Trump said on "Truth Social", "We have told those countries that we will help their ships pass through these narrow waterways safely."

The head of Iran's Armed Forces Joint Command, Ali Abdollahi, gave a strong response. He warned the US military to stay away from the Strait of Hormuz. If the US military comes near or enters the Hormuz, it will be attacked. He instructed merchant ships and oil tankers not to make any movements without contacting the Iranian military. Abdollahi said that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in Iran's hands and the safe passage of ships will be protected by Iran's armed forces.

According to reports from Al Jazeera, CBS, CNN, and Axios, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that it will provide support for the mission with 15,000 military personnel, over 100 ground and naval aircraft, warships, and drones, as per the US President's directive. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said, "Our support for this defensive mission is crucial for regional security and the global economy, as we also maintain the maritime blockade."

Meanwhile, according to Iranian state media, Washington has responded to Iran's 14-point proposal through Pakistan, which Tehran is reviewing. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ismail Baghaei, said, "We have not discussed the nuclear program with the US." Earlier, Trump had deemed Tehran's proposal unacceptable. US officials said that under "Project Freedom", US Navy warships would not escort ships passing through the strait directly but would guide stranded ships, while US warships would remain nearby to prevent Iranian attacks.

In the meantime, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said that the US has transferred 22 crew members of an Iranian container ship to Pakistan, where they will be handed over to Iranian authorities. The ministry termed the move a confidence-building measure. It was further stated that after necessary repairs, the Iranian ship would be returned to Pakistani territorial waters so that it could be handed over to its original owners. The ship was seized last month in the Gulf of Oman during an attack, which Tehran termed as US maritime piracy.

Iranian authorities believe that US actions will further complicate the situation and jeopardize ship security in the Gulf. They say they are maintaining the security of the Strait of Hormuz and that all merchant ships and oil tankers should avoid any movement without coordinating with Iranian forces.

The head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, Ibrahim Azizi, warned that any US interference in this maritime system would be considered a violation of the ceasefire. He said that this would not be run by Donald Trump's social media posts.

On the other hand, British maritime trade operations reported that due to ongoing military operations in the region, the security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains worrisome. Ship owners have been advised to stay in touch with Omani authorities and consider passing through Omani territorial waters, where the US has established a better security zone.

It is clear that Donald Trump had announced that from Monday, the US would monitor ships in the Strait of Hormuz because countries around the world had requested it. On the other hand, Iranian authorities say that after the unrest and war that started on February 28, the situation in the strait will not be the same as before. Iran has also hinted at charging a fee from passing ships, which has been criticized as being against the freedom of navigation at the global level. Since late February, Iran has effectively closed the route through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas supply passes, while the US has been blockading Iranian ports since April 13.