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President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a new initiative called “Project Freedom,” under which the U.S. military will begin guiding foreign ships out of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday.
The president said the effort is intended as a humanitarian measure to assist countries and commercial vessels stranded by the ongoing standoff in the region.
“Countries from all over the world, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly and violently for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with — They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders!” he wrote on Truth Social.
“For the good of Iran, the Middle East and the United States, we have told these countries that we will guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” he added.
President Trump said the operation would focus on vessels from countries not directly involved in the conflict and emphasized that many ships have been stranded for extended periods.
“I have told my representatives to inform them that we will use our best efforts to get their ships and crews safely out of the Strait,” he said.
The president added that the effort is partly driven by humanitarian concerns, noting that some crews are running low on essential supplies.
“Many of these ships are running low on food and everything else necessary for large-scale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner,” he said.
President Trump also indicated that diplomatic talks with Iran are ongoing, expressing cautious optimism about potential progress while voicing skepticism about Tehran’s recent 14-point proposal.
“I am 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 said.
“If, in any way, this humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully,” he continued.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham shared his support, writing on X, “Totally agree with President Trump’s decision to launch Project Freedom, whose purpose is to restore freedom of navigation for the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway for the world economy that has been locked down by Iranian terrorism.”
