Two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels navigated out of the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday with support from the U.S. Navy, marking the first such transit since the military launched "Project Freedom" to guide ships through the chokepoint. CENTCOM confirmed the passage, adding that U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers also moved from the Arabian Sea into the Gulf. A U.S. official said the merchant ships were not escorted but sailed through a designated defensive zone, and Iran did not fire on them.
The operation comes amid heightened tensions and follows a new U.S. initiative to restore transit for commercial shipping through the strait, through which about 20% of global oil passes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied any vessels had crossed in recent hours and threatened to stop violators by force. The IRGC warned that any maritime activity contradicting its declared principles would face serious risks.
CENTCOM said American forces are actively assisting efforts to reopen the waterway for commercial traffic. A U.S. official disclosed that rules of engagement for American forces in the region have been modified, authorizing them to strike immediate threats. The official did not provide further details on the scope of these changes.
The transit represents a direct challenge to Iranian influence over the passage. Iran has previously seized tankers in the region, and the threat of forceful interdiction raises the prospect of direct military confrontation. The U.S. military's willingness to guide ships through risks escalating a shadow conflict into open engagement.
Experts caution that each transit tests Iranian red lines and could trigger a disproportionate response. The situation remains fluid, with no guarantee that future crossings will proceed without incident.