US President Donald Trump has announced that American forces will move to “free up” ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz from Monday, in a direct challenge to Iran’s blockade of the strategically vital waterway.
In a statement issued on his social media platform on Sunday, Trump described the operation — which has been named Project Freedom — as a “humanitarian gesture”, and warned Tehran against any attempt to disrupt it.
The president said the intervention had been prompted by deteriorating conditions aboard the stranded vessels. “Many of these Ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner,” he wrote.
He went on to frame the operation as a goodwill effort, but issued a stark warning over any potential interference. “I think it would go a long way in showing Goodwill on behalf of all of those who have been fighting so strenuously over the last number of months. If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
Trump added that he had instructed his representatives to relay a message to Iranian officials, telling them the United States would “use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait”.
The announcement marks a significant escalation in Washington’s posture towards the Iranian-imposed blockade, which has held shipping captive in one of the world’s busiest and most strategically important maritime corridors.
