President DonaldTrumphas promised the U.S. will guide ships through the blockedStrait of Hormuzfrom Monday as part of a “humanitarian gesture” dubbed Project Freedom.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump warned ships from “innocent bystander” countries not involved inthe war he started with Iran in Februarywere running low on food and other supplies.
“Countries from all over the World, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships,which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with,” the president wrote late Sunday.
“They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders! 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.”
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) – the division of the Pentagon responsible for the Middle East – announced that 15,000 troops, more than 100 aircraft, and a number of guided-missile destroyers would be involved in the effort.
“The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance,” Trump continued.
“I think it would go a long way in showing Goodwill on behalf of all of those who have been fighting so strenuously over the last number of months.
“If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
However, Iran has responded to the president’s latest post with further threats against the U.S.
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Major General Ali Abdollahi of the Iranian military’s central command said: “We warn that any foreign armed force — especially the aggressive US military — if they intend to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz, will be targeted and attacked.
“We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be co-ordinated with the armed forces.”
On Monday, the Joint Maritime Information Center said that the U.S. had set up an “enhanced security area” south of typical shipping routes and advised vessels to coordinate closely with Omani authorities “due to anticipated high traffic volume.”
“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper said.
Mariners have been stranded in the Gulf since as early as 28 February, when the U.S. and Israel began a bombing campaign against Iran, who shortly afterwards closed the Strait of Hormuz to free maritime traffic and implement a toll-system.
The move comes as tentative peace talks involving the U.S. and Iran have stalled, and the economic impact of the ongoing conflict continue to grow.
“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,” Trump said in his Sunday post.
However, Ibrahim Azizi, a senior Iranian lawmaker, warned that U.S. involvement in managing shipping through the Strait of would amount to a violation of the ceasefire.
Azizi said that the Strait and the Persian Gulf “would not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts".
