US and Iran exchange fresh strikes as they battle for control of Gulf waters

The United States and Iran exchanged fresh attacks in the Gulf on Monday as they vied for control of the Strait of Hormuz, enforcing rival maritime blockades that rattled a fragile truce.

The latest wave of missile and drone strikes followed US President Donald Trump’s push to escort stranded tankers and vessels through the strategic waterway—effectively shut since US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, a conflict that has left thousands dead across the region.

By the end of the day, multiple commercial ships reported fires or explosions, Washington said it had destroyed six small Iranian military boats, and an oil port in the United Arab Emirates—home to a major US base—was set ablaze by Iranian missiles.

Trump offered few details about his initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” which aims to facilitate safe passage through the strait. He announced it shortly after a congressional deadline for authorising the war had passed, asserting the conflict had already ended—a claim disputed by some lawmakers.

The move marked the first apparent military effort since last month’s ceasefire to reopen the world’s most critical energy shipping route. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has insisted that passage through the strait requires its approval. Meanwhile, shipping insurance costs have surged, and major carriers remain reluctant to resume transit without a clear end to hostilities.

Tehran condemned the US effort, warning it could escalate tensions. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the crisis has no military solution and noted that peace talks, mediated by Pakistan, were ongoing.

Despite US claims that two American merchant ships successfully transited the strait under naval escort, Iran denied any such crossings had occurred recently.

Clashes at sea intensified, with the US military saying it had destroyed Iranian boats, while Tehran expanded its declared zone of control in surrounding waters. Several maritime incidents were reported, including damage to commercial vessels near the UAE.

Strikes also hit the UAE, where fires broke out at the Fujairah oil port—one of the few regional export routes that bypass the strait. The UAE condemned the attacks as a serious escalation and signalled it could respond.

Iran said its actions were retaliation against what it described as US military aggression, while both sides issued conflicting accounts of incidents at sea, making independent verification difficult.

Oil prices surged amid the uncertainty, as Iran warned that any foreign military presence near the strait would be targeted.

Although direct US-Iran airstrikes had paused weeks ago and initial peace talks were held, efforts to continue negotiations have stalled. A recent Iranian proposal—reportedly conveyed via Pakistan—suggested delaying discussions on its nuclear programme until after a ceasefire, but Trump indicated he was unlikely to accept it.