On Sunday, May 3, President Trump announced that starting on Monday, ships will be escorted through the Strait of Hormuz. Subsequently, the US Central Command stated that missile destroyers, over a hundred military aircraft, and ten thousand troops will participate in the escort operation.
Trump referred to the escort mission as “Project Freedom,” aiming to assist in rescuing ships “stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Central Command posted on X platform late Sunday that the US military will begin supporting the “Project Freedom” operation on May 4 to restore the freedom of navigation for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
“This mission directed by the President will support the free passage of commercial vessels through this critical international trade route (Strait of Hormuz). A quarter of global maritime oil trade, as well as a significant amount of fuel and fertilizer products, are transported through the strait,” the command wrote.
Central Command Commander and Navy Admiral Brad Cooper stated in a release, “Our support for this defensive mission is crucial for regional security and the global economy, and we will continue to maintain maritime blockades.”
The command also mentioned the “Maritime Freedom Construct” initiative launched in collaboration with the US State Department and the Department of Defense to strengthen coordination and information sharing among international partners to support maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Maritime Freedom Construct aims to combine diplomatic actions with military coordination, which is crucial during the operation of ‘Project Freedom’,” the Central Command stated.
The US military support for “Project Freedom” will include deploying “missile destroyers, over a hundred land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 troops” to participate in the operation.
Iran has expressed that this move will be seen as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham strongly supported President Trump’s “Project Freedom.” He posted on X platform, “I fully endorse President Trump’s decision to launch ‘Project Freedom,’ which aims to restore the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial channel for the world economy that has been blocked by Iranian terrorism.”
US Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz also stated on Sunday that the US and its Gulf partners will continue to defend freedom of navigation.
Waltz posted on X platform, “Regardless of your stance on the Iranian nuclear program conflict, Iran’s brazen mining of international waters and attempts to ‘extort’ civilian merchant vessels are illegal and unacceptable.”
Graham accused Iran of “intimidating the world” and prolonging the conflict through “playing politics.”
“I hope once again that this conflict can be resolved through diplomatic means, but now is the time to restore freedom of navigation. If Iran continues to intimidate the world, it must be dealt with firmly. Enough, the actions of this terrorist regime must stop!” Graham said.
Waltz warned that Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz could set a dangerous precedent. “Future conflicts will arise, whether it’s the Malacca Strait, the Strait of Gibraltar, or the Strait of Hormuz, the world cannot allow one party to attempt to punish the economies of various countries to gain leverage over the other,” Waltz wrote.