President Trump said Monday the U.S. military “shot down” seven speedy Iranian boats and urged South Korea to join efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr. Trump, writing on Truth Social, said Iran has been interfering with other nations’ vessels, South Korea should join his new operation, Project Freedom, to reopen the strait.
“Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship. Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission!” he wrote on Truth Social.
“We’ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, ’fast’ Boats,” Mr. Trump said of Iran. “It’s all they have left.”
His post confirmed earlier information from the U.S. Central Command, which said it was forced to fire on Iranian boats. The situation could upend a fragile ceasefire that’s held since early April.
Mr. Trump launched a military operation against Iran on Feb. 28 to prevent the Islamic republic from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Yet allies were surprised by the start of the war, and have balked at Mr. Trump’s requests for help in reopening the strait.
Iran is restricting traffic in retaliation for missile attacks by the U.S. and Israel, which killed top leaders and decimated its military infrastructure.
Mr. Trump’s latest attempt to reopen the strait involves a heavy Navy presence to guide merchant vessels. He ordered the U.S. military to retaliate against Iranian ships that interfere.
Mr. Trump says Iran has not submitted a peace proposal that meets his terms, and that Tehran’s fractured leadership needs to rally behind an offer that prevents them from getting a nuclear weapon.
