Tehran, May 4: The Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Monday claimed that it hit a US Navy frigate with two missiles that sought to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The US frigate, which had set sail near Iran’s southern port city of Jask to cross the Strait of Hormuz “in violation of the traffic and shipping security,” was hit after ignoring the Iranian naval forces’ warning, Fars cited local sources as saying.

It added that after being struck, the frigate was forced to retreat and flee from the region.

However, according to a subsequent report by Axios, a senior US official denied that a US ship was hit by Iranian missiles, Xinhua news agency reported.

Iran has repeatedly announced that no movement is possible through the Strait of Hormuz without its official permission, and ignoring this warning will be met with a decisive response from the Iranian armed forces, according to Fars.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday the United States will guide ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz safely out of the restricted waterway on Monday.

In response to Trump’s claim, Iran’s main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned on Monday that “any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz,” according to the official news agency IRNA.

Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz beginning February 28, when it barred safe passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following joint strikes on Iranian territory.

The United States imposed its anti-Iran blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after post-ceasefire negotiations with Tehran on April 11 and 12 failed to lead to an agreement.

Tehran, May 3: Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned US President Donald Trump’s remarks that called the US seizure of Iranian vessels “piracy.”

“The president of the United States has openly described the unlawful seizure of Iranian vessels as ‘piracy,’ brazenly boasting that ‘we act like pirates,'” Baghaei said in an X post.

“This was no verbal slip. It was a direct and damning admission of the criminal nature of their actions against international maritime navigation,” Baghaei added.

Trump on Friday bragged that the US Navy acted “like pirates” in its blockade of Iranian ports. “We took over the ship, we took over the cargo, we took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business,” Trump said at an event in Florida, Xinhua news agency reported.

Baghaei called on the international community, UN member states, and the UN secretary-general to firmly reject any normalization of such “blatant violations” of international law.

The United States imposed its anti-Iran blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after post-ceasefire negotiations with Tehran in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on April 11-12 failed to yield an agreement.

The ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel took effect on April 8 following 40 days of fighting. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders and civilians.

Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East, while tightening its grip on the Strait of Hormuz and denying safe passage to vessels linked to Israel and the United States.

Washington, May 2: The Pentagon has estimated that Iran has suffered losses of around $4.8 billion in oil revenue due to a blockade imposed by the United States Navy on its ports, which cited unnamed officials.

The report noted that two tankers have been seized during the course of the blockade. In addition, officials said that as many as 31 tankers carrying approximately 53 million barrels of oil are currently “stuck in the Gulf,” highlighting the scale of disruption caused to Iran’s oil exports.

According to the same officials, some vessels are now opting for “a costlier and longer route to deliver oil to China for fear of US maritime interdiction,” indicating that shipping patterns have been altered due to concerns over enforcement actions by US forces.

The blockade was imposed by the United States on Iranian ports during a temporary truce, as part of efforts aimed at pressuring Iran to accept a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire that would permanently end the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.

Iran had stated last month that it had fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping following the announcement of a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

However, the waterway was subsequently restricted again after the US declined to lift its blockade, maintaining that restrictions would remain in place until a permanent agreement to end the war with Iran is reached.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump told lawmakers that the war against Iran has “terminated,” as the military action — which was launched without Congressional approval — has reached a 60-day legal deadline.

“There has been no exchange of fire between the United States and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Trump was quoted by Politico as saying in a letter to congressional leaders.

“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” Trump said.

According to the report, the latest move is an effort to quelch the fight over the need for Congress to approve the conflict, Xinhua reported.

Under the War Powers Resolution adopted in 1973, the president — after notifying Congress of the use of military force — must terminate the action within 60 days, unless Congress authorises continued military action.

The United States and Israel launched major combat operations against Iran on February 28. The Trump administration formally notified Congress on March 2 of the military action, meaning the 60-day legal deadline would expire on May 1.