
US President Donald Trump's administration sent a private message to Iran before the launch of the US operation in the Strait of Hormuz, warning Tehran not to interfere with the mission for the safe passage of commercial ships in one of the world's most important energy corridors.
According to Axios, the message was conveyed on Sunday by a senior Trump administration official and was aimed at reducing the risk of military escalation between the two countries. The operation, codenamed “Project Freedom,” aims to guide ships through the strait after weeks of tensions and attacks on shipping.
However, despite the American warning, Iran carried out a series of attacks on US Navy ships, commercial vessels and targets in the United Arab Emirates during the first day of the operation, raising concerns about a possible return to open conflict.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine said the Iranian attacks had not crossed the threshold that would require the resumption of major combat operations and insisted that the ceasefire still remained in effect.
On the other hand, American and Israeli officials believe that Trump could order the resumption of the war if diplomatic talks stall in the coming days.
The American operation has so far failed to restore the normal flow of oil and goods through Hormuz, as many shipping companies remain skeptical about the safety of the passage.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key point for global energy trade, as a large portion of the world's oil exports pass through it, making any military tension in the area a factor with a direct impact on international markets.