A high-ranking official in the president’s administration briefed it on Sunday on the impending US operation to “escort” ships through the and warned Tehran not to react, according to Axios, which cited an unnamed official and a source with knowledge of the matter.
This private communication suggests, as Axios notes, that the White House sought to limit the risk of escalation. Despite the warning, Iran went ahead with a series of attacks against US Navy ships, commercial vessels and targets in the United Arab Emirates.
According to the report, some American and Israeli officials believe that President Trump may order the resumption of hostilities even within the week if the diplomatic impasse continues.
Warning via Trump post as well
According to reports, the warning about the so-called “Project Freedom” was issued on Sunday and coincided with a post by Trump on the Truth Social platform.
According to the figures so far, the operation has not led to a substantial increase in the flow of oil or goods through the Straits in the first 24 hours. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that two U.S.-flagged ships passed through on Monday and none on Tuesday.
What does Iran say?
From Tehran’s side, no new attacks against ships were recorded on Tuesday. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the country had created “a new equation” with Monday’s attacks.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with the US, brokered by Pakistan, were “making progress”, calling on the US side not to be “led into a quagmire again”.
