Iran says it turns back US warship from Strait of Hormuz, US official denies missile strike

Key Points:

• Iran claimed it forced a U.S. warship to turn back from entering the Strait of Hormuz and issued warnings against foreign military presence in the strategic waterway, emphasizing it controls security there.
• Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that two missiles struck the U.S. warship near the port of Jask, but a senior U.S. official denied these missile strike claims, and Reuters could not independently verify the incident.
• The tensions follow U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a plan to guide ships stranded in the Gulf safely out of restricted waterways amid ongoing conflict, prompting Iran to warn commercial vessels to coordinate movements with its military.
• Iran has effectively blocked nearly all shipping in and out of the Gulf except its own since the war began, disrupting about 20% of global oil and gas shipments and causing a significant surge in oil prices.
• The U.S. Central Command is maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports and supporting rescue efforts with substantial military resources, highlighting the ongoing strategic and economic stakes in the region.