Middle East crisis live: US targets Iranian boats amid tense push for control of strait of Hormuz

Lead

The United States and Iran traded fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, as Washington launched a new military operation to reopen the critical waterway and Tehran accused the US of reckless escalation. The clashes marked the latest flare-up in a conflict that began in late February when the US and Israel first attacked Iran, prompting Tehran to close the strait.

The US military said it destroyed six small Iranian boats and intercepted incoming missiles and drones, while Iran attacked the United Arab Emirates with drones and missiles, setting the oil port of Fujairah on fire, according to multiple reports. Iran denied the US account of the boat attacks, and Tehran did not officially confirm or deny the assault on the UAE.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from several outlets converged on the broad outlines of the confrontation but differed in emphasis and detail. ABC Australia, citing Iranian state media, reported that Tehran fired missiles at "enemy units" after a US attack on an Iranian tanker, with the official claiming the units sustained damage and left the area. The US military said it had disabled an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait, according to the same report.

Al Jazeera focused on the UAE's account, reporting that its air defences intercepted ballistic and cruise missiles fired from Iran, with a fire reported at an oil facility in Fujairah after a suspected drone attack. The outlet also noted that Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the European Union condemned the suspected Iranian strike on the UAE.

The BBC reported that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of opting for a "reckless military adventure" every time a "diplomatic solution is on the table," and said Iranians would "never bow to pressure." The BBC also described the US and Iran trading fire in the Strait of Hormuz.

Fox News provided additional details, reporting that President Donald Trump dismissed previous Iranian attacks as a "love tap," and that satellite imagery revealed a suspected oil slick near Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal. The outlet also reported on the deployment of Iranian submarines described as an "invisible guardian" of the strait.

France 24 reported that the US military fired on Iranian forces and sank six small boats, and that the operation aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Guardian reported on the launch of "Project Freedom," Trump's warning that Iran would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it attacked US vessels, and the Iranian attack on the UAE.

The Jerusalem Post reported on a specific incident in which US forces attacked an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that attempted to bypass the blockade, firing 20 mm cannon rounds at the ship's rudder from a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet after multiple warnings.

Key Claims

The US and Iran are engaged in a conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides trading fire and accusing each other of aggression, as reported by multiple outlets.

Iran has deployed small submarines to act as an "invisible guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from Fox News and The Guardian, citing Iranian state media.

The US has enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports, depriving Tehran of oil revenue and aimed at forcing Iran to make concessions in talks on its disputed nuclear program, as reported by The Guardian and Fox News.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of opting for a "reckless military adventure" every time a "diplomatic solution is on the table," as quoted in reports from the BBC, Fox News, and France 24.

The US military said it fired on Iranian forces and sank six small boats targeting civilian ships as it moved to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a claim denied by Iran, as reported by Al Jazeera, France 24, The Guardian, and ABC Australia.

Iran attacked the UAE with drones and missiles, setting the oil port of Fujairah on fire, as reported by The Guardian, France 24, and Al Jazeera.

The US has launched "Project Freedom" to open a route through the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by The Guardian.

Satellite imagery revealed a suspected oil slick near Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal, covering roughly 45 square kilometers, as reported by Fox News.

US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it attacked any US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Al Jazeera and The Guardian.

Perspectives

United States (Trump administration): The US framed its actions as self-defense and a necessary effort to reopen an international waterway. President Trump launched "Project Freedom" to help hundreds of stranded ships and warned Iran of severe consequences if it attacked US vessels. US Central Command said it carried out self-defense strikes after Iranian forces launched missiles, drones, and small boats against US warships, and that it eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities.

Iran (Foreign Ministry and military): Iran accused the US of reckless military adventurism and violating the ceasefire by targeting ships and civilian areas. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there was no military solution to the crisis, that Iran would never bow to pressure, and that the strait is open to commercial ships that cooperate with Iranian naval forces. Iranian state media denied US claims of sinking Iranian boats, saying the vessels were civilian.

United Arab Emirates: The UAE said its air defences intercepted 15 missiles and four drones fired by Iran, and reported a fire at an oil facility in Fujairah that wounded three Indian nationals. The UAE has not officially confirmed or denied the Iranian attack, but its account of the interception was widely reported.