The United States President, Donald Trump, announced the initiation of a project on Monday to assist stranded ships in leaving the Strait of Hormuz, offering limited details. Trump stated in a social media post that countries considered “neutral and innocent” have been impacted by the Iran conflict. He assured these countries that the U.S. would facilitate the safe passage of their ships out of the restricted waters, allowing them to resume their operations freely. The project, named “Project Freedom,” is set to commence in the Middle East on Monday morning. Trump mentioned ongoing discussions with Iran that could potentially result in positive outcomes.
The closure of the strait by Iran following the U.S. and Israel’s initiation of the conflict on Feb. 28 has caused significant disruptions in global markets. Numerous ships, including oil and gas tankers and cargo vessels, have been stranded in the Persian Gulf since the conflict erupted. Crew members, predominantly from India and other countries in south and southeast Asia, have reported challenges such as dwindling supplies of drinking water, food shortages, and witnessing intercepted drones and missiles exploding over the waters.
Trump emphasized the humanitarian nature of the effort, aiming to assist those affected by the circumstances. He warned of potential forceful actions if any interference occurs during the humanitarian process. Iranian outlets swiftly shared Trump’s statement, referring to it as a “claim.” The White House and the Pentagon did not provide immediate responses to requests for further information.
In a separate incident on Sunday, reports emerged of a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz being attacked by multiple small craft, as well as another ship hit by unknown projectiles. These incidents mark the latest in a series of attacks in and around the strait since the onset of the conflict. Despite the attacks, no injuries were reported. The first vessel targeted was an unidentified cargo ship traveling north near Sirik, Iran, while the second was a tanker struck off Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
Amidst a fragile three-week ceasefire, Trump hinted at the possibility of further strikes while reviewing Iran’s latest proposal to resolve issues within 30 days and bring an end to the conflict. Iran’s proposal includes demands such as the lifting of U.S. sanctions, cessation of naval blockade on Iranian ports, withdrawal of forces from the region, and halting all hostilities, including Israel’s activities in Lebanon. Iran communicated its proposal via Pakistan, following face-to-face talks hosted by Pakistan between the two nations last month.
Efforts to encourage direct dialogue between the U.S. and Iran continue, with Pakistan’s leadership urging both parties to engage in direct discussions. Additionally, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi engaged in discussions with his Omani counterpart, Badr al-Busaidi, who had overseen previous rounds of talks before the conflict.