Iran warned on Monday that it would consider any US attempt to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz a breach of the Mideast ceasefire, as President Donald Trump said the United States would begin escorting ships through the blocked waterway.

Negotiations between the two countries have been deadlocked since a ceasefire came into effect on April 8, and Iran’s stranglehold on the strategic strait following US-Israeli attacks on Tehran has been a main point of contention.

Trump said on Sunday that the new maritime operation, which he dubbed “Project Freedom,” was a “humanitarian” gesture for crews aboard the many ships swept up in the blockade and which may be running low on food and other crucial supplies.

“We will use our best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait. In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, noting operations would begin on Monday.

In response, the head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission said: “Any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire.”

By blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has choked off major flows of oil, gas and fertiliser to the world economy, while the United States has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.

Trump, in his post, said he was “fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all.”

He made no direct mention of what Tehran described as a 14-point plan “focused on ending the war.”

US Central Command said it would use guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members in the Hormuz effort.

As of April 29, more than 900 commercial vessels were located in the Gulf, according to maritime intelligence firm AXSMarine.

Impossible operation

US news website Axios, citing two sources briefed on the proposal, reported that Iran set “a one-month deadline for negotiations on a deal to reopen the strait,” dissolve the US naval blockade and end the war.

Earlier Sunday, the Revolutionary Guards sought to put the onus back on Trump, saying he must choose between “an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Washington’s European allies are concerned that the longer the strait remains closed, the more their economies will suffer, and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul demanded that it be reopened.

In a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Wadephul stressed that Germany supported a negotiated solution but that “Iran must completely and verifiably renounce nuclear weapons and immediately open the Strait of Hormuz.”

Oil prices are currently about 50 per cent above pre-conflict levels, largely due to the supply snarls in the strait.

Suffocating the regime

The US president, who spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, declined on Sunday to specify what could trigger new American military action.

But in his post, he said that “if in any way, this Humanitarian (ship-guiding) process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US naval blockade was only part of a broader economic embargo.

“We are suffocating the regime, and they are not able to pay their soldiers. This is a real economic blockade, and it is in all parts of government,” he told Fox News.

In yet more bellicose rhetoric, Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said Iranian forces would sink US ships.

“The US is the only pirate in the world that possesses aircraft carriers. Our ability to confront pirates is no less than our ability to sink warships. Prepare to face a graveyard of your carriers and forces,” he posted on X.

AFP

Fresh concerns have emerged over the detention of 62 Nigerians as Ugandan authorities allegedly denied the detainees access to legal representation, PUNCH Metro has learnt.

The Nigerians, said to be members of a Christian missionary group, Life Mission, were detained by immigration authorities over allegations of illegally operating churches.

The country’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control disclosed this in a statement posted on its X handle on Wednesday.

It was also learnt that the arrests were carried out during operations conducted on April 27, 2026, in Adjumani and the Bukoto–Ntinda area of Kampala.

However, in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Metro on Thursday, the executive director of the mission group, Michael ChristisKing, said the detainees were Christian missionaries engaged in a long-running cross-cultural outreach focused on humanitarian service.

ChristisKing also disclosed that the organisation followed due process before entering the country, adding that the group secured invitations and approvals from relevant authorities, including the Office of the Prime Minister, the Commissioner for Refugees, and the Born Again Fellowship of Uganda.

PUNCH Metro, however, learnt that efforts to check on their welfare and provide legal representation had been unsuccessful.

A Ugandan lawyer, Israel Mivule, who was contracted by the mission group, told PUNCH Metro on Sunday that he was denied access to the detainees during a visit to the facility on Friday.

He added that he made repeated efforts to speak with at least one detainee but was denied access.

He said, “I arrived at the detention facility in Namawme, a large compound with a high fence and a locked gate. After introducing myself as a lawyer acting on instructions, I was refused access and directed to return to Kampala to obtain permission from senior officials.

“I pleaded with the officer to allow me at least a one-on-one interaction with any of the detainees to assess their well-being, but he declined, saying granting such access could jeopardise his job.”

The lawyer stressed that the development was a clear breach of Ugandan constitutional provisions.

He further revealed that from his position at the gate, he could see the detainees moving within the facility, but observed that they were cut off from communication.

“As a lawyer, I emphasised that detainees have the right to legal representation and a fair hearing. Under Articles 50 and 51, they have the right to access their lawyers at any time. Denying them that access is a violation of their rights.

“From where I stood, I could see them moving around, but they had no access to communication devices such as mobile phones. Preventing them from communicating with their lawyers or even family members infringes on their fundamental freedoms,” he added.

Mivule said he was forced to leave after spending considerable time at the facility without gaining entry.

He disclosed that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the detainees, noting that there were grounds to challenge their continued detention.

The lawyer also revealed plans to revisit the Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs and possibly escalate the matter to court if diplomatic efforts fail.

Speaking further on efforts made, Mivule said there had been initial collaboration with the Nigerian embassy, including discussions around possible waivers.

“There were discussions about payments and possible waivers requested from Internal Affairs, but if the embassy does not act promptly, we, as legal representatives, will formally write and escalate the matter to the courts to obtain an order for their immediate release,” he added.

He disclosed that the body assigned to monitor missionary activities in Uganda had expressed surprise at the development.

Mivule said, “One of the leaders responsible for overseeing missionary activities was unaware of their detention and expressed shock when I informed him. He acknowledged that urgent steps should be taken to resolve the matter.”

However, a document sighted by PUNCH Metro on Sunday showed that the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda had formally acknowledged the mission’s activities in the country before their arrest.

In a letter dated August 15, 2025, and addressed to the Nigerian High Commission in Kampala, the fellowship confirmed that the mission, identified as Exalting Jesus Life Missions, was “well known” to the body.

The letter, signed by the General Secretary of the fellowship, Bishop Dr Africano Magyezi, stated that the organisation is a non-profit group granted permission to bring volunteer students to Uganda for missionary work, particularly among refugees in camps.

It read, “This is to confirm to you that the above-captioned ministry/mission is well known to us. They are a non-profit organisation that was granted permission to bring volunteer students on a mission to Uganda, ministering to refugees living in the refugee camps.

“They have been working in Uganda since 2023, carrying out those missions, and now they are coming to Uganda with a group of 107 Nigerian missionaries and other Ugandan volunteers. The Fellowship supports its members to upgrade their careers and statuses so as to participate better in community development.”

The fellowship further urged that any assistance rendered to the group in the course of its activities would be appreciated.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, could not be reached for comments as calls to his telephone line were not answered.

A text message sent to him had also not been replied to as of the time this report was filed.

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At least 130 Nigerians have already registered for voluntary evacuation flights from South Africa as Nigeria moves to safeguard its citizens amid rising tensions linked to anti-foreigner protests in the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a situation report via her X handle on Sunday, said the evacuation arrangement is part of broader diplomatic and security measures being coordinated with Nigerian missions in South Africa.

The minister explained that the evacuation plan follows directives from President Bola Tinubu, who ordered heightened monitoring of the situation and stronger protection for Nigerians abroad.

“The President has reiterated that the priority at this time remains the safety of our citizens,” she said, adding that “arrangements are currently underway to collate details of Nigerians in South Africa for voluntary repatriation flights for those seeking assistance to return home.”

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said, “So far, 130 applicants have duly registered for the exercise with our mission,” noting that the number is expected to increase as more citizens seek assistance to return home.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also confirmed that the ministry had summoned South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner over the unrest, while diplomatic engagements continue with authorities in South Africa.

The development comes amid renewed anti-immigrant demonstrations in cities including Pretoria and Johannesburg, which Nigerian authorities say have heightened concern for the safety of their nationals.

“There is heightened anxiety over the series of anti-foreigner protests, also targeted at Nigerians in select cities in the Republic of South Africa in recent weeks,” the minister said.

She added that the President had “expressed grave concern on the situation following a briefing, and has called for more effective control of the situation by relevant host security services.”

Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that while South African authorities, including President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior security officials, had condemned violence, disturbing images circulating online had fuelled international concern.

“The images pervading both mainstream and social media depicting violence, carnage and targeted xenophobic killings of foreign nationals and demonstrations characterised by xenophobic rhetoric, hate speeches and incendiary anti-migrant statements by the arrowheads of such rallies, have generated worldwide condemnation,” she stated.

According to her, protests held between April 27 and 29, 2026, were largely peaceful but still required heavy police deployment in the affected cities.

“The protests spearheaded by a local anti-migration movement, in Pretoria and Johannesburg, between 27 – 29 April 2026, witnessed a largely peaceful procession, under the presence of heavily armed police who occasionally sprayed teargas to deter the protesters from engaging in violent activity.

“There is no recorded killing of any Nigerian or destruction of Nigerian-owned properties during this particular protest,” the minister explained.

However, Odumegwu-Ojukwu confirmed two separate deaths involving Nigerians, both allegedly linked to interactions with security personnel.

“Amamiro Chidiebere Emmanuel died on 25th of April 2026 as a result of injuries sustained from brutal beatings by military personnel of the South African National Defence Force on 20th April 2026 in Port Elizabeth,” she said, referring to the South African National Defence Force.

She further disclosed that “Nnaemeka Matthew Andrew also died following an alleged interaction with members of the Tshwane Metro Police, and his body was discovered at the Pretoria Central Mortuary on 20th April 2026.”

Describing both incidents as unacceptable, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said, “This is utterly condemnable and unacceptable. The Nigerian High Commission is closely following investigations into these unfortunate incidents, and Nigeria demands justice be done in these cases.”

The minister added that another wave of demonstrations is expected between May 4 and 8, 2026, prompting further security and diplomatic coordination between both countries.

She stressed that Nigerian diplomatic missions are working closely with South African authorities to ensure the protection of citizens while evacuation preparations continue.

The minister further stated, “Nigeria is a frontline state which made great sacrifices towards the liberation struggles of South Africa, a fact which needs to be distilled down to the younger generation in South Africa.

“Nigerian lives and businesses in SA must not continue to be put at risk, and we remain committed to working with South Africa to explore ways to put an end to this xenophobic pattern.

“It has become a repetitive wave, most especially before elections in South Africa, and anti-foreigner opposition parties leverage this situation to garner votes.

“Nigeria recently signed a memorandum of understanding with South Africa on early warning to protect citizens of both countries, especially in times such as these.”

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