Trump Launches “Project Freedom” to Evacuate Ships Trapped in Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the United States will mount a military-backed operation to evacuate civilian vessels stranded inside the Strait of Hormuz, CNBC reported. The initiative, named “Project Freedom,” was set to begin Monday.
What Project Freedom Involves
Trump outlined the mission in a Truth Social post. The goal is to escort civilian ships flagged in nations uninvolved in the U.S.-Iran conflict safely out of the contested waterway. Trump said the effort is purely humanitarian and not an attempt to fully restore commercial navigation through the strait.
U.S. Central Command later confirmed the operation’s scope. CENTCOM said forces will include guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, unmanned multi-domain platforms, and approximately 15,000 service members. The command described a broader objective to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping.
Trump warned that any Iranian interference with the evacuation would be met with force.
Why the Strait Matters to Global Markets
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Roughly a quarter of all seaborne oil trade passes through the narrow passage, along with substantial volumes of fuel and fertilizer. Its closure since the outbreak of hostilities has disrupted global supply chains, pushed crude prices sharply higher, and driven up gasoline costs for American consumers.
Iran blocked the waterway by firing on transiting vessels and laying mines, effectively trapping ships that had been in the strait when fighting erupted.
Background: A War Still Without a Resolution
The U.S.-Iran conflict entered its second month with a fragile ceasefire now extending past two weeks. Negotiations to formally end the war are ongoing but have not produced a deal. Trump said earlier in the week that he was unsatisfied with Iran’s latest offer.
Friday brought a procedural flashpoint. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 set a deadline for Trump to seek congressional authorization for continued military action. Trump told lawmakers that same day that hostilities had already “terminated,” sidestepping the requirement.
Trump suggested in his Sunday post that Iran permitting stranded ships to depart could build goodwill in the broader peace talks. He framed the trapped crews and companies as “victims of circumstance” who played no part in the conflict.
The White House did not immediately provide operational details, and it remains unclear whether Tehran will allow the mission to proceed uncontested.
Read Next: What a Strait of Hormuz Closure Means for Oil Prices
