War preparations under way in Iran as Hormuz tensions with US escalate

Tehran, Iran – Iranian media say a United States warship trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz has been hit with two missiles after ignoring warnings. The unnamed warship had to withdraw from near the Iranian port of Jask on Monday and “flee”, according to the Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The US military, in a social media statement, denied that one of its vessels had been struck. The report by Fars came hours after the head of Iran’s joint military command warned US forces they would be attacked if they entered the Strait of Hormuz. Major General Ali Abdollahi said in a statement that armed forces under his command will “maintain and manage security of the Strait of Hormuz with all strength” in response to US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Sunday that the US would “guide” vessels stranded by the US-Israeli war on Iran through the key waterway. A child holds an Iranian flag while driving in Tehran [Vahid Salemi/AP Photo] The latest tensions come as Iranian authorities mobilise supporters to prepare for a potentially lengthy conflict as they continue to exchange proposals with the US amid efforts to end the war that began on February 28 through negotiations. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday confirmed that Tehran was reviewing the latest text from Washington relayed through Pakistan but urged a more “realistic” approach from Trump. …