Trump: 'Project Freedom' Will Guide Ships From Hormuz

The United States will launch an effort on Monday to "guide" stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz, President Trump said, giving few details about what could be a sweeping attempt to help hundreds of vessels and some 20,000 seafarers. Iran quickly denounced it as a ceasefire violation, the AP reports. Trump said in a social media post on Sunday that "neutral and innocent" countries have been affected by the Iran war, and "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." "Project Freedom" would begin on Monday morning in the Middle East, Trump said, adding that his representatives are having discussions with Iran that could lead to something "very positive for all."

US Central Command said the initiative would involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members. The Pentagon did not immediately answer questions about how they would be deployed. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency called Trump's announcement part of his "delirium," and Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission of Iran's parliament, said on X that any interference in the strait would be seen as a ceasefire violation. Trump spoke hours after Iran said it was reviewing the US response to its latest proposal to end the war and made clear these are not nuclear negotiations. The fragile three-week ceasefire appears to be holding.

Earlier Sunday, a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz said it was attacked by multiple small craft, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported, while another ship was hit by "unknown projectiles." They were the latest in at least two dozen attacks in and around the strait since the Iran war began, and a reminder of the risks if the new US effort goes forward, the AP reports. No injuries were reported. They were the first reported attacks in the area since April 22. Tehran has effectively closed the strait by attacking and threatening ships, and the threat level in the area remains critical.