United States President Donald Trump has announced a new initiative, tagged “Project Freedom,” aimed at guiding neutral commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
In a statement released on Sunday, Trump said several countries not directly involved in the regional conflict had requested U.S. assistance to help free ships reportedly stranded in the strategic waterway.
According to him, the United States has agreed to use its “best efforts” to escort the vessels and their crews to safety, describing the move as a humanitarian gesture intended to assist countries and companies caught in the crisis.
Trump said the operation is expected to begin Monday morning, Middle East time, adding that some of the affected ships were running low on food and other essential supplies needed for large crews to remain at sea.
He also disclosed that U.S. representatives were holding what he described as “very positive discussions” with Iran, expressing hope that the talks could produce a broader positive outcome.
The U.S. president, however, warned that any interference with the planned ship movement would be “dealt with forcefully.”See Full Details. .
