President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the United States will launch an operation on Monday to escort stranded commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway Iran has effectively closed since the U.S. and Israel opened the war on Feb. 28. Trump, in a social media post, said “neutral and innocent” countries have been affected by the conflict and the U.S. will “guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.” He named the initiative “Project Freedom.”
The Pentagon said the mission will involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members, according to U.S. Central Command. Officials did not immediately respond to questions about how those forces would be deployed. Iran’s effective closure of the strait — through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas trade typically passes — has shaken global energy markets and left hundreds of vessels and some 20,000 seafarers stuck in the Persian Gulf. Crew members have described to The Associated Press seeing intercepted drones and missiles explode over the waters as their ships run low on drinking water, food, and other supplies. Many of the sailors come from India and other countries in South and Southeast Asia.
“They are victims of circumstance,” Trump wrote, describing the effort as a humanitarian gesture “on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.” He added a warning: “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
Iran immediately denounced the plan. The state-run IRNA news agency called the announcement part of Trump’s “delirium.” Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission of Iran’s parliament, said on X that any interference in the strait would constitute a ceasefire violation. Iran’s deputy parliament speaker, Ali Nikzad, said earlier Sunday that Tehran “will not back down from our position on the Strait of Hormuz, and it will not return to its prewar conditions.” Iran has asserted that it controls the strait and that ships not affiliated with the U.S. or Israel can pass if they pay a toll, a position that challenges the freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law.
Trump’s announcement came hours after Iran said it was reviewing the U.S. response to its latest proposal to end the war. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, cited by Iran’s judiciary Mizan news agency, said, “at this stage, we have no nuclear negotiations.” Iran’s 14-point proposal calls for lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran, ending the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdrawing forces from the region, and ceasing all hostilities, including Israel’s operations in Lebanon, according to the semiofficial Nour News and Tasnim agencies. The proposal would resolve other issues within 30 days and aims to end the war rather than simply extend the three-week ceasefire, which appears to be holding. Trump on Saturday said he was reviewing the proposal but expressed doubt it would yield a deal.
Pakistan’s prime minister, foreign minister, and army chief continue to encourage direct U.S.-Iran talks, according to two officials in Pakistan who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Pakistan hosted face-to-face talks last month and has passed messages between the two sides.
Even as the ceasefire holds, violence near the strait persists. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported Sunday that a cargo ship near Sirik, Iran, was attacked by multiple small craft, and a tanker off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates was struck by “unknown projectiles” around 11:40 p.m. No injuries were reported. They were the first reported attacks in the area since April 22. Iran denied an attack, with semiofficial outlets Fars and Tabnak reporting that a passing ship had been stopped for a documents check. The threat level in the area remains critical.
The U.S. has warned shipping companies they could face sanctions for paying Iran in any form, including digital assets, to transit the strait safely. Meanwhile, a U.S. naval blockade imposed April 13 is squeezing Iran’s economy. Central Command said Sunday that 49 commercial ships have been told to turn back. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Sunday that Iran has collected less than $1.3 million in tolls, “a pittance on their previous daily oil revenues,” and that the country’s oil storage is filling rapidly. “They’re going to have to start shutting in wells, which we think could be in the next week,” Bessent said.