Trump Launches Project Freedom for Strait of Hormuz Monday
Donald Trump said project freedom would begin Monday morning Middle East time, with a U.S. operation to free up ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the effort was meant to move vessels for people, companies, and countries that had done nothing wrong, and he warned that any interference would be met forcefully.
Trump framed the move as a humanitarian gesture for the United States, Middle Eastern countries, and especially Iran. The Strait of Hormuz carries 20% of the world’s oil, and Iran’s effective closure of the route has rattled energy markets.
Trump’s Sunday announcement
Trump announced the plan on Sunday afternoon in a Truth Social post, saying, “The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance.” He added, “This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.”
He also wrote, “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.” In a separate post, Trump said, “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.”
Iranian proposal through Pakistan
The U.S. response to a 14-point peace proposal was sent through Pakistani mediators. Officials from Iran and Pakistan involved in the peace talks confirmed the points of the proposal as originally reported by Axios, including ceasing all hostilities within 30 days, ending the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdrawing American forces from the region, and lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran.
Trump reportedly told Nathan Guttman that the new Iranian proposal is not acceptable. “The new Iranian proposal is not acceptable,” Trump said in a brief phone interview. He added, “It’s not acceptable to me. I’ve studied it, I’ve studied everything – it’s not acceptable.”
Baghaei on the nuclear issue
Esmaeil Baghaei, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, said on state television on Sunday that “the nuclear issue is not included in the new proposal.” That leaves the talks centered on whether the ceasefire terms, sanctions relief, and troop withdrawal demands can move forward before the war’s third month becomes another round of escalation.
The pressure is already visible outside the talks. The U.S. average price of gas per gallon hit $4.45 on Sunday, up from $3.17 last year, while a Washington Post-Ipsos poll found 66% of respondents disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran war and 33% approve.
Monday morning Middle East time is the first test of whether the ship operation proceeds as announced and whether the Strait of Hormuz can reopen to traffic without the kind of interference Trump said would trigger a forceful response.
