First Thing: Tensions rise over Hormuz as Trump threatens to blow Iran ‘off the face of the earth’

Good morning. Donald Trump has again raised the stakes in the Gulf region with the Monday launch of “Project Freedom” to open a route through the strait of Hormuz. More than 800 ships and roughly 20,000 crew members remain stranded in the region. Just hours after the operation began, the US military said it destroyed six small Iranian boats and interceptedIranian cruise missiles and drones – a claim that was denied by Iran – and Iran attacked the United Arab Emirates with drones and missiles, setting the oil port of Fujairah on fire. Trump then threatened that Iran would be “blown off the face of the earth” if it attacked any of the US vessels in Hormuz. Have any vessels made it out of the strait? US Central Command (Centcom) said two US-flagged merchant vessels had “successfully transited” the strait, but Iran has denied this claim. Late on Monday, the container shipping company Maersk said the Alliance Fairfax – a US-flagged vehicle carrier – exited the Gulf. Shipping industry experts remain skeptical about whether vessels will be able to travel safely to and from the Gulf under Trump’s plan. This is a developing story. Follow the liveblog here. US supreme court expedites Voting Rights Act ruling, allowing Louisiana Republicans to redraw maps for midterms The court gutted section 2 of the Voting Rights Act less than a week ago. …