TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US President Donald Trump said that the US will begin to "guide ships" of countries not involved in the Middle East conflict out of the blocked Strait of Hormuz as of Monday.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the mission, which he dubbed "Project Freedom," would concern ships of "neutral and innocent bystanders."
"I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait," Trump wrote.
He alluded to the ongoing peace negotiations, saying that "these discussions could lead to something very positive for all," but stressing that the mission to free ships was separate.
"The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance." Trump said. "This is a humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran."
It was not clear if this move was coordinated in advance with Iran, which has exercised de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz and has mostly blocked traffic via the critical waterway since the war started on February 28.
"If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully," Trump said, without elaborating.
US CENTCOM announces support for Trump's move
The US Central Command announced on Sunday it was supporting Donald Trump's so-called "Project Freedom" to "restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz" as of Monday.
"The mission, directed by the President, will support merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the essential international trade corridor," the US CENTCOM said on X, in a move that could escalate tensions with Iran and restart the fighting.
The US Central Command said the US military support to the mission would include "guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members."
Iran warns any US interference in Hormuz would violate ceasefire
Iran has issued a warning to the US following President Donald Trump's announcement that the US military would escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz as of Monday.
"WARNING," Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran's parliament, posted on X. "Any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire."
Azizi stressed that the strategic waterway "would not be managed by Trump's delusional posts!"
"No one would believe Blame Game scenarios!" he added, after Trump said the mission to escort ships through the strait, which is de facto controlled by Tehran, would be a "humanitarian" gesture.
Read: Iran Sets One-Month Deadline for US Deal on Strait of Hormuz
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