Washington: US President Donald Trump said the US Navy will start guiding foreign stranded ships to safety through the Strait of Hormuz from Monday and warned Iran that any interference in the process would be dealt with forcefully.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said ‘Project Freedom’ was aimed at helping foreign ships that are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz as “innocent bystanders” and in no way involved in the developments in West Asia.
Trump said several of these ships were running low on food, drinking water and everything else necessary for large-scale crews to stay onboard in a healthy and sanitary manner.
“Countries from all over the World… have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote.
He added that these nations were “merely neutral and innocent bystanders” and not part of the Middle East dispute.
The President said the United States would coordinate safe passage for commercial vessels through restricted waters.
“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways,” Trump said.
He added that the aim was to allow vessels to “freely and ably get on with their business.”
Trump also said US officials were engaged in ongoing discussions with Iran that could lead to a positive outcome.
“I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all,” he wrote.
The comments come amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and Gulf shipping routes.
Describing the operation as a humanitarian effort, Trump said many ships were facing logistical difficulties while stranded.
“These are Ships from areas of the World that are not in any way involved with that which is currently taking place in the Middle East,” he said.
“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 added.
Trump warned that any interference with the operation would be met with a strong response.
“If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully,” he said.
He described the initiative as a goodwill gesture involving Iran, Middle Eastern countries, and the United States, aimed at easing tensions and improving maritime conditions in the region.
Regional tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensified on Sunday, with fresh maritime incidents, diplomatic exchanges between Iran and the United States, and renewed economic pressure on Tehran amid an ongoing blockade.
The developments come as global shipping routes remain on edge and energy markets continue to react to instability in one of the world’s most critical oil transit corridors.
