President Donald Trump said Sunday that the U.S. will guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as he has offered little optimism that he will accept a recent proposal from Iran to end the war.
Trump said that the U.S. will begin guiding the ships Monday and that it was a response to other countries — which he did not name, but said were not involved in the conflict — asking the U.S. to help free up ships locked in the passage.
“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, 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 on Truth Social.
Trump added that the operation to guide the vessels will be called “Project Freedom” and said that interlocutors had communicated his decision to affected countries.
The president acknowledged that there were still discussions ongoing with Iran, which he said “could lead to something very positive for all.”
“The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance. This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran,” Trump said.
Trump added that if the U.S.’ effort to guide ships is interrupted, it will “have to be dealt with forcefully.”
The price of oil dropped 2% following Trump's announcement Sunday.
Trump’s announcement comes as a cargo ship near the strait was attacked Sunday morning by multiple small craft, according to the British military.
The United Nations' International Maritime Organization last month condemned attacks on and seizures of commercial ships.
"I once again call for these reckless actions to cease and for any ships and innocent seafarers to be released immediately," the organization's secretary-general, Arsenio Dominguez, said in a statement at the time.
A fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran has held, but it’s not clear what a longer-lasting peace deal might look like.
Trump said Saturday that he was reviewing a proposal from Iran to end the war, but signaled little hope that the U.S. would accept the offer. He also left open the possibility of resuming strikes on the country.
Since the war began, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz to essentially all shipping except its own. The U.S. has blockaded Iranian ports since April 13.
Last week, a Kpler report said that Iran is quickly running out of oil storage and that the amount of crude oil being loaded onto tanker ships by the country has plunged almost 70% since the U.S.' blockade began.
Trump, who is facing pressure from lawmakers to seek congressional approval for the conflict, insisted last week that that wouldn’t be necessary given the temporary ceasefire.
