Arabic version: الولايات المتحدة ستساعد السفن العالقة في مضيق هرمز اعتبارًا من يوم الاثنين

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will help guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday. According to BBC News, Trump emphasized the initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” as a humanitarian gesture aimed at benefiting Iran, the Middle East, and the United States.

In his social media post, Trump did not specify which countries would receive assistance but warned that any interference in the process would be dealt with forcefully. The Strait of Hormuz has seen limited traffic due to the ongoing conflict, which began in February, and the US has enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

The US Central Command stated that 15,000 personnel, guided-missile destroyers, and more than 100 aircraft would be involved in “Project Freedom.” An estimated 20,000 sailors have been trapped in the Gulf since the start of the war with Iran, raising concerns about their dwindling supplies and overall well-being.

Late on Sunday, the UK Maritime Transportation Operation reported that a tanker had been hit by an “unknown projectile” in the strait, although the crew was reported safe. The announcement from Trump coincided with reports that Iran had received a US response to its peace proposal, which is currently under review.

Iran’s proposal includes demands for the withdrawal of US forces from near its borders and the cessation of the naval blockade. However, Trump deemed the proposal unacceptable, indicating that he believes Iran has not yet faced sufficient consequences for its actions. While discussing the potential for military strikes against Iran, Trump noted that it remains a possibility if Iran misbehaves, but for now, the focus is on the ongoing discussions and the newly announced maritime operation.