US President Donald Trump has announced a naval mission, dubbed “Project Freedom,” aimed at guiding stranded commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz, with operations set to begin in few hours i.e. Monday morning, West Asia time.
In a statement, Trump said multiple countries, most of them not involved in the ongoing West Asia conflict, had requested US assistance to help free ships stuck in the congested and volatile maritime corridor.
“Countries from all over the world… have asked the United States if we could help free up their ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, describing the vessels as belonging to “neutral and innocent bystanders.”
Trump stated that US forces would escort ships from non-involved nations “safely out of these restricted waterways,” enabling them to resume normal commercial operations. He added that the initiative would be beneficial not only for the United States but also for Iran and the broader West Asia.
According to the announcement, US representatives have been instructed to inform concerned nations that Washington will use its “best efforts to get their ships and crews safely out of the Strait.” He noted that vessels participating in the evacuation would not return until the area is deemed safe for navigation.
“This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time,” Trump said, adding that US officials are engaged in “very positive discussions” with Iran that could yield constructive outcomes.
Framing the operation as a humanitarian effort, Trump emphasized that many ships in the region are facing shortages of essential supplies, including food, raising concerns about crew welfare.
“The movement is meant to free up people, companies, and countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong—they are victims of circumstance,” he said. “This is a humanitarian gesture.”
However, Trump also issued a warning, stating that any interference with the operation would be met with a firm response. “If this humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will… have to be dealt with forcefully,” he said.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical chokepoints, handling a significant share of global oil shipments, and has been at the centre of rising geopolitical tensions in recent months.
