Trump Announces U.S. Will Escort Stranded Ships Out of the Strait of Hormuz
Why It Matters
The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, has been effectively closed to international shipping since the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, 2026. The disruption has stranded hundreds of vessels and approximately 20,000 seafarers in the Persian Gulf, threatening global energy markets and the livelihoods of sailors from India and across South and Southeast Asia.
President Donald Trump’s announcement of a U.S.-led maritime escort operation — dubbed “Project Freedom” — signals a significant escalation in American military engagement in the region and carries the risk of direct confrontation with Iranian forces that have attacked at least two dozen ships since the conflict began.
What Happened
Trump announced Sunday via social media that the United States would begin guiding stranded ships safely out of the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday morning, Middle East time. The president described the initiative as a humanitarian gesture for “neutral and innocent” countries whose vessels have been caught in the conflict.
“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,” Trump wrote. He added that U.S. representatives are engaged in discussions with Iran that could lead to something “very positive for all,” while issuing a direct warning that any interference with the humanitarian effort would “have to be dealt with forcefully.”
U.S. Central Command confirmed the scope of the operation, stating it would involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members. The Pentagon had not provided details on specific deployment plans as of Sunday evening.
The announcement came hours after two ships near the strait reported attacks. A cargo ship traveling north near Sirik, Iran, reported an attack by multiple small craft, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. A second vessel, a tanker positioned off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, reported being struck by unknown projectiles around 11:40 p.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported in either incident. Those were the first reported attacks in the area since April 22.
Iran’s Response
Tehran swiftly condemned the U.S. announcement. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency characterized Trump’s remarks as “delirium,” and Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission of Iran’s parliament, said on X that any interference in the strait would constitute a ceasefire violation.
Iran has asserted that it controls the strait and has maintained that ships not affiliated with the United States or Israel may pass after paying a toll — a claim that directly challenges freedom of navigation under international law. Iran denied responsibility for Sunday’s cargo ship incident, with semiofficial outlets describing the vessel stop as a routine documents check.
Separately, Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Tehran is reviewing the U.S. response to a 14-point Iranian proposal aimed at ending the conflict. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that “at this stage, we have no nuclear negotiations,” signaling Iran’s preference to address non-nuclear issues first. The proposal reportedly calls for the lifting of U.S. sanctions, an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdrawal of American forces from the region, and a cessation of all hostilities including Israeli operations in Lebanon.
By the Numbers
- ~20,000 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf since the conflict began
- 15,000 U.S. service members involved in the escort operation
- 100+ aircraft committed to “Project Freedom”
- 24+ reported attacks on ships in and around the strait since February 28
- 3 weeks — the approximate duration of the fragile ceasefire currently in place
Zoom Out
The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply under normal conditions, making its disruption one of the most consequential maritime crises in decades. The conflict, which began February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched operations against Iran, has sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Pakistan’s prime minister, foreign minister, and army chief have been actively encouraging direct U.S.-Iran dialogue, reflecting broader regional concern about the conflict’s economic and security spillover effects.
The situation carries echoes of the 1980s “Tanker War,” when the United States conducted Operation Earnest Will to escort Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Persian Gulf amid the Iran-Iraq War — though the current scale of U.S. military commitment appears substantially larger.
What’s Next
The “Project Freedom” escort operation was set to begin Monday morning in the Middle East. Iran’s formal response to the U.S. counterproposal on ending the war is still pending, and the fragile three-week ceasefire remains in effect but under strain. Trump said Saturday he was reviewing Iran’s 14-point proposal but expressed doubt it would produce a deal. Diplomatic activity involving Pakistan and regional actors is expected to continue as both sides navigate a narrow path between military escalation and negotiated resolution.