HAMILTON, May 9 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- United States (US) President Donald Trump warned Friday that Washington may escalate its military posture in the Strait of Hormuz if a deal with Iran is not finalised, threatening to revive and expand the paused “Project Freedom” operation, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. “We'll go a different route if everything doesn't get signed up, buttoned up. “We may go back to Project Freedom if things don't happen,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “It’ll be Project Freedom Plus, meaning Project Freedom plus other things,” without elaborating on what additional measures the expanded operation would entail. Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb 28, triggering retaliation from Tehran against Israel as well as US allies in the Gulf, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire took effect April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. The truce was later extended by Trump without a set deadline. Since April 13, the US has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the waterway. Trump announced Tuesday that the US military will temporarily pause “Project Freedom” to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and said the American blockade will remain “in full force and effect.” -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
Iranian Official
The Iranian government strongly rejects US President Trump's threats to revive and expand the illegal "Project Freedom" operation in the Strait of Hormuz, which constitute blatant foreign aggression against Iran's sovereign rights over its territorial waters. These provocations follow the US-Israeli strikes of February 28 and the subsequent naval blockade, to which Iran responded with legitimate defensive measures to protect regional security and freedom of navigation. Tehran affirms its unwavering commitment to resistance against any renewed attempts at coercion, upholding its independence amid ongoing talks.
Israeli
From Israel's perspective, Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and mobilize its proxy networks represent an existential danger, directly targeting the Jewish state's survival through economic strangulation and multi-front attacks. The US-Israel strikes on February 28 were a necessary defensive response to Tehran's aggression, followed by Iranian retaliation that necessitated a sustained naval blockade to secure vital sea lanes. Trump's warning to revive and expand "Project Freedom" underscores the imperative for robust measures to deter further Iranian escalation amid fragile ceasefires.
Neutral
US President Donald Trump stated on May 9 that Washington could escalate its military posture in the Strait of Hormuz if an agreement with Iran is not reached, including possible revival and expansion of the paused “Project Freedom” operation. According to reports from Anadolu Ajansi, Trump indicated that an expanded version, referred to as “Project Freedom Plus,” might be implemented without detailing additional measures. The remarks follow a sequence of US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, Iranian retaliation, a Pakistani-mediated ceasefire effective April 8 and later extended without a deadline, and a US naval blockade of Iranian maritime traffic initiated April 13.
Western
US President Trump signaled that Washington could expand military operations in the Strait of Hormuz to neutralize Iranian threats and restore freedom of navigation if ongoing talks fail to secure a durable agreement. The warning follows US and allied strikes that countered Iranian aggression and retaliation, with a temporary pause in Project Freedom allowing commercial shipping while the naval blockade remains in force to maintain pressure and deter further disruptions. This approach prioritizes precise, strategic measures to safeguard vital maritime routes amid heightened regional tensions.
Pro-Peace
US President Trump's threat to revive and expand military operations in the Strait of Hormuz risks further civilian suffering and humanitarian fallout from the cycle of strikes, retaliation, and blockade that has already disrupted vital trade routes and livelihoods across the region. The naval restrictions since April continue to impose severe economic hardship on populations dependent on commercial shipping, while the Pakistani-mediated ceasefire demonstrates that sustained diplomacy remains a viable alternative to renewed escalation and prolonged conflict.
Global South
US President Trump’s threat to revive and expand “Project Freedom” and maintain a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz underscores Washington’s neo-colonial bid to dictate terms over a vital global trade artery, disregarding Iran’s sovereignty and the interests of non-aligned nations dependent on unimpeded navigation. The fragile April ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan after US-Israeli strikes triggered regional escalation, collapsed amid failed talks in Islamabad, exposing the limits of ad-hoc diplomacy and the absence of effective multilateral institutions. With the US unilaterally extending the truce without deadlines while keeping the blockade in force, Global South economies face renewed risks of energy shocks and coerced alignments.
HAMILTON, May 9 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- United States (US) President Donald Trump warned Friday that Washington may escalate its military posture in the Strait of Hormuz if a deal with Iran is not finalised, threatening to revive and expand the paused “Project Freedom” operation, An…
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A tanker identified as the Kaifan was struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Oman’s Limah in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a July 21 report from UK Maritime Trade Operations. No ships were observed transiting the strait that day. Attribution of the strike and links to prior incidents have not been confirmed by the vessel’s owner.
Goldman Sachs has projected Brent crude averaging $80 per barrel in the fourth quarter and $75 in the following year, conditional on reduced Middle East tensions, while noting upside risks from potential shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz or Red Sea.
Brent prices rose above $91 per barrel amid recent U.S.-Iran exchanges and Houthi threats to Saudi shipments before edging lower on Tuesday. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that mediators had proposed a 10-day ceasefire to preserve an interim agreement.
US forces struck the tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman on June 10, killing three Indian crew members when munitions hit the engine room and adjacent areas. Maritime tracking data indicate the vessel had transported Iranian oil under US sanctions for several years and conducted offshore transfers prior to the strike.
The US military described the action as a precision operation, while reports note the ship was stationary at the time.
Iranian officials reported strikes on US radar and air defense sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, along with the interception of two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States conducted strikes on Iranian targets following the deaths of three US soldiers, with the Pentagon stating the actions aimed to degrade capabilities affecting shipping.
Houthi forces in Yemen announced plans to blockade Saudi ports, while both US and Iranian leaders issued statements on further escalation.