Reuters now says two U.S.-flagged merchant ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. military support, while U.S. officials continue to deny Iran's claim that a warship was hit by missiles. The reported incident remains unresolved.

The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz has widened into a U.S.-escorted transit operation, but the claimed missile strike on an American warship remains unverified.

Reuters reported that Iran said it forced a U.S. warship to turn back from the strait and that a senior Iranian official described a warning shot at the vessel. U.S. Central Command denied that any U.S. Navy ship was struck by missiles.

Reuters later reported that two U.S.-flagged merchant ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz with U.S. military support. The agency also said two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers entered the Gulf as part of Project Freedom.

The new reporting shows the operational response has expanded even as the underlying damage claim remains unresolved. U.S. officials continue to deny that any American warship was hit, and Reuters has not confirmed any physical damage to the vessel in question.

The next question is whether either side publishes more evidence about the reported warning shot, the escort operation or the identity and condition of the ship involved.

Revision note

Updated with escort-operation reporting.