Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’: Can US navy ‘guide’ stuck ships out of Hormuz?

United States President Donald Trump has said Washington will guide ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz to safety – in an initiative dubbed “Project Freedom” – signalling a potential challenge to Iran’s blockade of the strategic waterway. “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 posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, calling it a “humanitarian gesture”. Recommended Stories list of 4 items end of list The campaign, the US president said, came at the request of countries whose vessels remain stuck in the strait, which he described as “neutral and innocent bystanders”. He added that US envoys were holding “positive” discussions with Iran, but warned that any interference with the operation would “have to be dealt with forcefully”. It remains unclear how the campaign will be implemented, as Iran has warned ships from entering the strait. On Monday, the first day of Trump’s campaign to rescue ships struck in the Gulf, a US warship was hit with missiles by the Iranian navy near Jask, in the strait located between Iran and Oman. The US has denied the Iranian claims, but the incident has raised fears of escalation in hostilities. Navigation through the strait has been disrupted after Tehran took control of the crucial waterway days after the US and Israel launched attacks on February 28. …