Iran Accuses US Military of Killing Five Civilians in Strait of Hormuz Attacks

Iran has accused the US military of killing five civilians by attacking two passenger boats in the Strait of Hormuz, directly challenging Washington’s claim that it targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vessels. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, an unnamed Iranian military commander said the boats were carrying civilians traveling between Oman and Iran when they were destroyed during a US operation dubbed “Project Freedom.”

The US Central Command initially claimed it had sunk six IRGC vessels that interfered with a mission to escort stranded ships out of the strait, with President Trump later increasing that number to seven. However, Iran’s investigation found no IRGC vessels were hit, only the two civilian boats, making the US responsible for what Tehran calls a “crime” against innocent people.

This violent incident shatters a fragile ceasefire reached on April 8, raising fears of renewed conflict in this critical waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes. Iran has maintained a blockade of the strait following US and Israeli attacks earlier this year, demanding control and transit fees as reparations.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf condemned US violations of the ceasefire, warning that America’s “evil will diminish” but that the current status quo is intolerable for the US. Meanwhile, the Iranian military threatened attacks on any commercial vessels attempting to cross without permission and warned US forces against entering the chokepoint.

The escalating tensions have seen Iran launch drone and missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates, hitting oil facilities and wounding civilians. The US military, meanwhile, escorted two US-flagged ships through the strait amid conflicting claims about the safety and control of the passage.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged caution, emphasizing that “there’s no military solution to a political crisis” and highlighting ongoing peace talks mediated by Pakistan. Yet President Trump doubled down on threats, warning Iran it would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it attacked US vessels involved in Project Freedom.

This deadly clash exposes the Trump administration’s reckless brinkmanship and willingness to escalate military tensions in the Middle East, risking civilian lives and global economic stability to distract from domestic scandals and consolidate power. The world watches nervously as the Strait of Hormuz becomes a flashpoint for potential wider conflict.