President Trump said Sunday the United States will begin a naval escort operation to guide stranded commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the effort as a humanitarian mission aimed at assisting neutral countries caught in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said multiple nations not involved in the dispute had asked for U.S. assistance after their ships became trapped in the restricted waterway, calling them “neutral and innocent bystanders.” He said the operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” would begin Monday morning local time in the Middle East, with U.S. forces tasked with safely escorting ships and crews out of the region.
The U.S. military confirmed Monday that American destroyers have entered the Gulf to support the escort operation. Trump also said U.S. representatives are engaged in “very positive discussions” with Iran, while Iran’s Foreign Ministry indicated it is reviewing Washington’s response to Tehran’s latest peace proposal.
Trump warned that any interference with the mission would be met “forcefully.”
Sources: President DJT on Truth Social / CNN
