'Project Freedom': US President Trump's latest announcement to guide ships out of Strait of Hormuz
On Truth Social, Trump wrote on Sunday evening local time, that countries from all over the world have asked the US to free up their ships locked up in the Strait. Calling them “innocent bystanders”, Trump said that the US will guide these ships safely out of the key energy chokepoint along with the crew, for the “good of Iran, the US and the Middle East.”
“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. In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
However, he did not elaborate upon who were these countries that have requested the US for help, and how will the US go about ensuring a safe passage for ships through the Strait, that has been a major flashpoint between the US and Iran, with both parties claiming closure of the waterway through which 20% of the global energy supply passes through.
“Project Freedom”, according to Trump, will begin from Monday morning Middle East time.
Trump also added that his representatives are having very positive discussions with Iran, and that those discussions could lead to something “very positive for all”.
The US President also went on to warn that if in any manner this humanitarian process is interrupted or interfered with, it will “unfortunately” have to be dealt with force.
According to India’s Shipping Ministry on Sunday, a Marshall Islands-flagged LPG Carrier, MT Sarv Shakti, carrying 46,313 MT of LPG, with 20 crew members on board, including 18 Indians, has safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz, and could arrive at Visakhapatnam on May 13.