White House Warned Iran Before U.S. Operation in Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions

A senior official in the Trump administration privately informed Iran on Sunday of an impending U.S. operation to "guide" ships through the Strait of Hormuz and cautioned Tehran against interference, according to a U.S. official and a source with direct knowledge.

Why it matters: The private warning suggests the White House aimed to reduce the risk of escalation. However, Iran proceeded with a series of attacks on U.S. Navy ships, commercial vessels, and targets in the United Arab Emirates.

State of Play: U.S. and Iranian Actions

On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine minimized the impact of the Iranian attacks, asserting that the ceasefire remained intact. Despite this, unnamed U.S. and Israeli officials indicated that President Trump could authorize a resumption of hostilities later in the week if diplomatic efforts fail to progress.

Behind the Scenes: The Warning and Public Response

The warning, linked to the operation codenamed "Project Freedom," was delivered to Iran on Sunday. It coincided with a Truth Social post by Trump that evening. On Tuesday, Hegseth stated that the U.S. is "communicating both overtly and quietly to the Iranians to allow this defensive operation to take place on behalf of the world."

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly directed inquiries to Trump’s Truth Social post but declined to provide additional comments.

Driving the News: Iranian Attacks and U.S. Claims

During the operation’s first day on Monday, Iran launched multiple attacks on U.S. Navy ships transiting the strait, as well as commercial vessels in the region and targets in the UAE. Caine asserted at a Tuesday press conference that the Iranian actions were "below the threshold of restarting major combat operations."

Hegseth added, "Right now, the ceasefire holds." He acknowledged that initial disruptions were expected, stating, "There are some actions the IRGC takes sometimes that are outside the bounds of what maybe Iranian negotiators would like. That's their job to rein them in and create the conditions for a deal."

Both Hegseth and Caine emphasized that the U.S. military is prepared to resume combat operations immediately if ordered by Trump.

Operation Impact: Limited Progress in First 48 Hours

In the first 24 hours of the operation, there was no significant increase in oil or cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM reported that two U.S.-flagged ships passed through on Monday, while none did on Tuesday. Hegseth claimed that "hundreds more" ships were awaiting passage, though shipping companies remain skeptical of the administration’s assurances.

Hegseth urged Iran to exercise restraint, stating, "We would urge Iran to be prudent in the actions they take."

The Other Side: Iran’s Response and Diplomatic Maneuvering

As of Tuesday, there were no new Iranian attacks reported. However, Iranian Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X that Iran had established "a new equation" through its retaliatory actions on Monday. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that negotiations with the U.S., mediated by Pakistan, were "making progress" and urged the Trump administration not to be "dragged back into [a] quagmire by ill-wishers."

The latest development came as the UAE’s defense ministry reported that Iran launched a new missile and drone attack against the country on Tuesday. The UAE’s air defense systems responded to the assault.