The U.S. Will Begin to Extract Stuck Vessels from the Strait of Hormuz 0 22

The United States will escort vessels from neutral countries that are blocked in the Strait of Hormuz and seeking to leave, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the social network Truth Social on Sunday, May 3. The operation, called Project Freedom, will begin on Monday morning, Middle Eastern time. "These are vessels from regions of the world that are in no way involved in what is currently happening in the Middle East," he clarified.

The decision to start the operation was made after appeals from third countries that requested the release of their vessels from the blocked maritime corridor, Trump said. He noted that the vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz are "merely neutral and innocent observers." "The movement of the vessels is simply intended to free the people, companies, and countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong - they are victims of circumstances," the U.S. president wrote.

Trump Called for No Interference in the Operation

According to Donald Trump, this will be a "humanitarian gesture" from the United States, Middle Eastern countries, and, in particular, Iran. "Many of these vessels are running out of food and everything necessary to maintain the health and sanitary conditions of the numerous crews. I believe this will be an important step in demonstrating goodwill from all those who have fought so fiercely over the past months," he pointed out.

The extracted vessels will not return to the strait until the area is safe for navigation, Trump added. "If this humanitarian process faces any opposition, then unfortunately, that interference will have to be dealt with by force," the American leader warned.

Despite Trump's statements that Tehran will also make a humanitarian gesture, a senior Iranian official warned against U.S. interference in the situation in the strait. "Any U.S. interference in the new maritime navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire," said Ebrahim Asisi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, on Monday on the social network X.