The clock is officially ticking. At 08:00 local time in the Gulf, the first U.S. Navy-led convoy under “Project Freedom” began its transit. This is the ultimate “call their bluff” move. Trump is betting that Tehran wants the 14-point Islamabad peace deal enough to let the U.S. dismantle their blockade piece by piece without firing a shot.
The “positive” talk coming out of the White House is the carrot; the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers leading the line are the stick.
08:00 AM: First 5 tankers (Panama-flagged) began their exit from the Gulf with U.S. escort. Tests if Iran will enforce its $1M transit toll or let the ships pass for free.
IRGC stated any interference is a “breach of the ceasefire” and hinted at anti-ship missiles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis
Iranian state media (Fars, etc.) is claiming two missiles hit a US Navy destroyer near Jask Island in the Hormuz area after it ignored warnings, but the US military and CENTCOM have straight-up denied it. No damage, no confirmed hit. The ship reportedly turned back, but that’s it.
The President is literally playing chicken with the Iranian navy to see who blinks first.
Escorting ships while talking peace is the ultimate “art of the deal” or a recipe for a naval dogfight.
If a single shot is fired during the escort, oil won’t just spike, the global economy will flatline.
Iran Threatens Attack On US Navy In Hormuz, As Pentagon Rejects IRGC Claim American Warship Hit https://t.co/HCMWxqay6T
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) May 4, 2026
Iran is claiming to have attacked and struck a US Navy vessel, announcing that it stopped US warships from entering the Strait of Hormuz “with a firm and swift warning” and noting that “additional news will be announced later” – a statement by state Tasnim News Agency said. Soon after, Fars news agency said that two missiles hit a US navy vessel near Jask island after it ignored warnings from the IRGC to halt. Jerusalem Post also picked up on the statement, writing:
The ship reportedly turned back after being hit. The report further noted that the missiles had been launched after the US “violated security protocols for transit and navigation near Jask with the intent to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”
However, soon after Axios stated that a “senior US official denies a US ship was hit by Iranian missiles.” CENTCOM soon after said that no US navy ships have been struck, adding that US forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports. It is the latest claimed major incident soon on the heels of President Trump the night prior announcing “Project Freedom” to “guide” stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz.