A northbound bulk carrier reported being attacked by multiple small craft 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran, on Sunday, Britain’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said. All crew were reported safe, with no environmental impact recorded.
UKMTO WARNING 050-26
Click here to read the full warning⤵️https://t.co/o6NFrV31Ih#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/QOGLK6zsPs
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) May 3, 2026
Iran disputed the account. Semiofficial outlets Fars and Tabnak reported the vessel was stopped by the Iranian navy for a documents check. The incident marks at least the 24th attack in or near the strait since the Iran-U.S.-Israel war began February 28, 2026, and the first since April 22.
Hours later, President Donald Trump announced “Project Freedom” via Truth Social, saying the U.S. will begin guiding stranded ships out of the waterway starting Monday. Trump said an estimated 20,000 seafarers aboard hundreds of vessels have been trapped since the war began.
“If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully,” Trump wrote.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday that 49 commercial ships have been turned back under the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, in effect since April 13.
Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, visited USS Milius (DDG 69), May 2, as the guided-missile destroyer patrolled regional waters in support of the U.S. blockade operations against Iran. While on board, he interacted with Sailors and addressed them on the 1MC while highlighting… pic.twitter.com/2qTmMmfY05
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 3, 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Sunday Iran has collected less than $1.3 million in Hormuz transit tolls, calling it “a pittance” against previous daily oil revenues. Bessent said Iran’s oil storage is filling rapidly and wells could begin shutting in within a week.
Iran’s deputy parliament speaker, Ali Nikzad, said Sunday that Tehran “will not back down from our position on the Strait of Hormuz, and it will not return to its prewar conditions.”
IRGC issued VHF radio warnings Monday directing vessels at UAE anchorages near Ras Al Khaimah to depart immediately. UKMTO confirmed “several Masters” were ordered to move — a sudden mass departure hours before Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ escort operation was due to begin. #Hormuz
— Hormuz Watch (@HormuzWatch) May 3, 2026
UKMTO separately reported vessels near Ras al-Khaimah, the northernmost emirate of the United Arab Emirates, received VHF radio warnings to move from anchorage positions. The origin of the transmissions was not established.
