President Donald Trump has launched Project Freedom, a US military operation to guide and escort hundreds of commercial ships stranded in the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Described as a humanitarian gesture, the initiative began Monday morning to restore traffic through the strategic waterway, which has been effectively blocked by Iran since the US-Israeli war on Iran began in late February. The blockade has resulted in significant supply and price shocks for oil, gas, and fertilizer.
The operation involves the deployment of more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 personnel. US Central Command stated that American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit, confirming that two US-flagged merchant vessels have already crossed the strait under their guidance. This move comes as negotiations between the United States and Iran remain deadlocked since a ceasefire came into effect on April 8.
Iran has strongly opposed the operation, warning that any foreign armed forces, particularly the US military, will be attacked if they enter the strait. Tehran insists that the security of the waterway is in its hands and that all vessel movements must be coordinated with its military. Iranian officials have labeled the US interference a violation of the ceasefire and warned that ships attempting to cross without permission are at risk.
Tensions have escalated as the US military reports the destruction of six Iranian boats during the operation. While Iranian media claimed a US warship was struck, Washington has denied the incident. President Trump has warned that interference with the operation will be dealt with forcefully and threatened new strikes if Iran misbehaves. Despite the US presence, some shipowners remain wary of risking a crossing due to the threat of attack and a lack of clarity regarding the operation.