Trump Launches Project Freedom To Guide Ships Out Of Strait Of Hormuz Monday

President Donald Trump announced that the United States would begin guiding ships out of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning, describing the effort as “Project Freedom” and framing it as a humanitarian initiative for “neutral and innocent bystanders.”

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “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, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”

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Trump said the process would begin on Monday morning “Middle East time,” and he added that “I have told my representatives to inform them that we will use our best efforts to get their ships and crews safely out of the Strait.”

The announcement came as Trump expressed doubt about a 14-point peace plan proposed by Iran over the weekend, and he said the U.S. was having “very positive discussions with the country of Iran.”

Politico reported that the U.S. would work to guide vessels out of the strait beginning Monday morning, and it described the move as occurring amid “the U.S. and Israel’s ongoing war with Iran.”

NBC News similarly said Trump told the public that the U.S. would begin guiding ships Monday and that the operation would be called “Project Freedom.”

CNN added that CENTCOM forces would begin supporting “Project Freedom” beginning Monday, and it quoted CENTCOM saying the mission would “support merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the essential international trade corridor.”

Alongside the announcement, Trump warned that any interference with the operation would be met with force, saying, “If, in any way, this humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”

Politico reported that Trump threatened in his post to Truth Social that the U.S. would respond “forcefully” if Iran interfered with the operation in the strait, which he dubbed “Project Freedom.”

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The New York Times described Trump’s warning as applying to interference, while also noting he offered few details about how the program would work.

CNN added that Trump called the effort a “humanitarian gesture” and warned that any interference will “have to be dealt with forcefully.”

On the Iranian side, a senior Iranian lawmaker warned that U.S. interference would be considered a violation of the ceasefire, with Ebrahim Azizi telling reporters, “Any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire.”

Azizi also said, “The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf would not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts!” and he added, “The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf are not a place for rhetoric.”

Fox News reported that Azizi’s remarks came after Trump announced “Project Freedom,” and it quoted Azizi’s line, “No one would believe Blame Game scenarios!”

U.S. political figures and military framing accompanied Trump’s announcement, with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham voicing support and accusing Iran of prolonging the conflict through negotiations.

Fox News quoted Graham saying, “Totally agree with President Trump’s decision to launch Project Freedom, whose purpose is to restore freedom of navigation for the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway for the world economy that has been locked down by Iranian terrorism,” and it added that Graham accused Iran of “playing games.”

In the same Fox News report, Graham said, “Again, I hope this conflict can end diplomatically, but it is now time to regain freedom of navigation and forcefully respond to Iran if they insist on terrorizing the world.”

CNN also quoted Graham’s social media remarks, including “Again, I hope this conflict can end diplomatically, but it is now time to regain freedom of navigation and forcefully respond to Iran if they insist on terrorizing the world,” and it described the plan as Trump’s “Project Freedom.”

CNN further reported that CENTCOM said the mission would begin Monday and that it would include guided-missile destroyers, “more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft,” and “15,000 service members,” while maintaining the naval blockade.

CNN’s account also said a U.S. official told CNN that “Project Freedom” is not an escort mission, and it quoted CENTCOM saying the Maritime Freedom Construct would be “critical during Project Freedom.”

NBC News described Trump’s effort as a response to other countries asking for help freeing ships locked in the passage, and it quoted Trump’s language about “neutral and innocent bystanders.”

The announcement arrived as the strait remained effectively closed to commercial traffic, and multiple outlets tied the situation to energy prices and stranded seafarers.

Politico said fuel prices around the world remained elevated with the strait effectively closed to commercial traffic for more than two months, and it reported that benchmark oil prices hit a four-year high on Thursday.

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Politico also reported that the average price at the pump for American drivers rose to $4.45 a gallon on Sunday, and it quoted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy saying, “From all the briefings that I’ve had, once the strait opens, you’ll see prices come down immediately.”

CNN similarly reported that the average cost of gas in the U.S. had soared to $4.45 a gallon and said it was a rise of nearly 50% since the beginning of the war.

CNN also reported that around 20,000 seafarers were stuck waiting to pass through, and it quoted Captain Istique Alam saying, “Ceasefire [is] not for seafarers,” and “Ceasefire is for normal people.”

CNBC reported that about 20% of the world’s crude oil transits the strait and linked the closure to soaring oil prices and higher gasoline prices in the U.S.

NBC News added that the price of oil dropped 2% following Trump’s announcement Sunday, and it said a cargo ship near the strait was attacked Sunday morning by multiple small craft, according to the British military.

While Trump presented “Project Freedom” as a humanitarian effort, the sources described ongoing negotiations and the risk of escalation if the operation is disrupted.

Fox News said Trump was “fully aware that my representatives are having very positive discussions with the country of Iran,” and it reported that the announcement came as Trump expressed doubt about a 14-point peace plan proposed by Iran over the weekend.

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The Express Tribune reported that Tehran confirmed it had received Washington’s response to its 14-point proposal through mediator Pakistan and was reviewing it, and it said Trump had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the proposals and warned that the war could resume if Iran “misbehaved.”

CNN reported that the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Iran was reviewing the U.S. reply to Tehran’s latest peace proposal, and it said the latest comments came after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the U.S. responded to Iran’s proposal via Pakistan and that Tehran was reviewing Washington’s reply.

CNBC reported that the U.S. and Iran have been in a fragile ceasefire for over two weeks as the war stretches into its second month, and it said Washington and Tehran have been negotiating to end the war without a deal yet.

CNN also reported that the U.S. military support would maintain the naval blockade, and it said CENTCOM’s statement described the mission as defensive while supporting merchant vessels.

NBC News added that since the war began, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz to essentially all shipping except its own, and it said the U.S. has blockaded the strait since April 13.