06.05.2026 00:01
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 10 civilian sailors were killed and 7 Iranian boats were destroyed in the "Freedom Project" operation in the Strait of Hormuz. Stating that they prefer to return to the pre-war situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio called Iran to the negotiation table, otherwise threatening that those enabling Tehran to avoid sanctions would face secondary sanctions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the operation called "Project Freedom" launched by Washington to ensure safe passage for neutral country ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
10 CIVILIAN SAILORS LOST THEIR LIVES
Rubio emphasized that "Project Freedom" continues at full speed and announced that 10 civilian sailors lost their lives in the clashes during the process. Stating that many crew members remain stranded on ships in the region, Rubio accused the Tehran administration of disregarding international maritime law and using civilian sailors as political pawns.
Rubio also reported that the U.S. destroyed 7 Iranian speedboats, while stating they prefer to return to the pre-war situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
"WE WILL NOT RESPOND UNLESS THEY OPEN FIRE"
The U.S. Secretary claimed that "Project Freedom" is a defensive operation, not an attack. Rubio said, "We will not respond unless they open fire in Hormuz. But if they attack a ship, we will respond."
"THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ DOES NOT BELONG TO IRAN"
Noting that the Strait of Hormuz does not belong to Iran and that Tehran has no right to close the strait, Rubio stated, "This situation cannot be normalized. Iran is trying to present it as a new normal! We can never, under any circumstances, allow them to normalize the fact that they blow up commercial ships and lay mines in the water."
THREAT OF SANCTIONS
Rubio said that Iran must return to the negotiating table and accept the terms, otherwise those enabling Tehran to evade sanctions will face secondary sanctions and lose access to the U.S. financial system.
Rubio added, "Today in Iran, inflation is at 70 percent, and the currency is literally in free fall."
TENSION IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
It was reported that Iran targeted a U.S. Navy ship, which was attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and was said to endanger maritime traffic near Jask Island, with 2 missiles.
Details about the Iranian military targeting the U.S. Navy ship were shared in a report by Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
The report noted that the U.S. ship had turned off its radar while trying to approach in the Strait of Hormuz and was detected when it turned its radar back on.
It was stated that Iran sent warning messages to the U.S. ship about "violating the ceasefire," and when the ship ignored the warnings, the Iranian military fired cruise missiles, UAVs, and rockets as warnings around the ship.
The U.S. Central Command, however, claimed that allegations of Iran attacking a U.S. warship with two missiles were baseless.