Hours before the US Central Command’s planned Project Freedom launch on May 4, multiple small craft intercepted a northbound bulk carrier 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran, UK Maritime Trade Operations reported.
The master reported the incident at 11:30 UTC on May 3, describing it as an attack, while confirming all crew remained safe with no injuries or environmental damage. Tracking data suggested the Liberia-flagged Minoan Falcon was involved, and AIS signals disappeared at the same coordinates and time.
Iranian state media Fars and Tabnak denied any attack, stating the vessel was stopped for routine documents inspection under its Hormuz management procedures.
UKMTO has logged around twenty-four incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, with Sirik marking the first reported case in nearly two weeks.
US-led Project Freedom aims to ensure freedom of navigation for commercial shipping, while Iran’s proposed Hormuz framework asserts inspection rights over vessels in its territorial waters, creating overlapping operational claims.
Analysts warn that simultaneous enforcement actions could escalate tensions if escort vessels and inspection craft interact during active operations in the strait.
Maritime agencies continue to monitor vessel movements across the region as shipping companies reassess routing decisions amid heightened alerts. CENTCOM has not issued additional confirmation beyond its operational timeline, while UKMTO advisories remain in effect for commercial traffic near Iranian waters. Insurance and freight operators are reviewing risk premiums, and some carriers are adjusting schedules to avoid inspection zones. Diplomatically, neither Washington nor Tehran has provided detailed public clarification beyond initial statements, and intermediaries have not confirmed new negotiations. Observers say further clarity will depend on additional incidents during rollout of Project Freedom operations in coming days.
