On Tuesday, May 5th, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated during a White House press briefing that at least ten civilian sailors have lost their lives aboard the stranded vessels due to Iran’s blockade of the Hormuz Strait. The U.S. military is currently executing the “Freedom Initiative” operation to rescue 23,000 stranded sailors from 87 countries.
President Trump (Donald Trump) announced the “Freedom Initiative” operation, directing the U.S. military to assist the stranded ships in safely navigating through the Hormuz Strait.
Pompeo, at the White House press conference, accused Iran of engaging in “piracy” and stated that commercial ships and their crews have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for over two months. This has raised concerns about dwindling food and freshwater supplies aboard the stranded vessels.
He emphasized that the crew members were essentially being held hostage by Iran, similar to how the regime ruthlessly slaughtered tens of thousands of its own citizens during peaceful protests.
“Approximately 23,000 civilians from nearly 87 countries are trapped in the Persian Gulf, being held hostage by the Iranian regime to die in the Persian Gulf,” he said. “They are isolated, they are hungry… at least ten civilian sailors have lost their lives as a result.”
Pompeo warned that the ships stranded in the region are facing increasingly dire circumstances.
“Food supplies are running low, drinking water and basic provisions are depleting, and they are entirely at the mercy of the pirates (referring to Iran),” he said. He described the current situation as a humanitarian and economic concern that has far-reaching implications beyond the countries directly involved in the conflict. Some countries have sought assistance from the United States.
“Many countries have privately or publicly requested U.S. help to rescue their ships and restore freedom of navigation in the Hormuz Strait, a crucial global trade route,” he said.
“We will stand up against rogue regimes like Tehran, we will unapologetically use our power and capabilities, projecting military force to uphold our national interests.”
“We cannot allow the Iranian regime to dictate who can use this crucial waterway,” he added. “We cannot allow them (Iran) to normalize the acts of bombing merchant ships and laying sea-mines.”
The Secretary of State underscored the importance of U.S. sanctions and maritime interdiction in pressuring the Iranian economy. He stated that these measures are essential for protecting global trade and civilian shipping. Countries around the world – many of whom are not involved in any military conflict – are now not only facing the risk of cargo losses but also threats to the lives of their citizens.