President Donald Trump on Sunday launched a military-backed maritime operation to guide stranded foreign vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any Iranian interference would be met with force. Trump announced the campaign, dubbed Project Freedom, at the request of countries whose ships are stuck in the strait, describing those nations as “neutral and innocent bystanders.” The International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates that up to 20,000 seafarers are stranded aboard roughly 2,000 vessels in the Gulf near the strait, including oil and gas tankers, cargo ships, bulk carriers and cruise liners. The IMO has warned that many ships are running critically low on food, fuel and water, and has called on all sides to de-escalate to allow crews to be evacuated safely. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that its support for Project Freedom will include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, and multi-domain unmanned platforms. Approximately 15,000 service members will be deployed in support of the operation. Iran responded swiftly. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, warned that any US interference in the strait would be considered a violation of the ceasefire that has been in effect since April 8. The commander of Iran’s armed forces added that any foreign military force intending to approach or enter the strait would be attacked. Iran has insisted it retain control over the strait after the war ends, with Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Nikzad saying on Sunday that Iran “will not back down from our position on the Strait of Hormuz.” Analysts questioned both the scope and the strategy. Jonathan Hackett, a retired US Marine Corps special operations specialist, warned that before the war, more than 100 ships transited the strait daily, and that the available US naval resources may be insufficient to manage that volume. He also cautioned that opposed encounters at sea could rapidly escalate beyond an escort mission. According to two American officials, the initiative will not necessarily involve US Navy ships physically escorting commercial vessels, but rather positioning warships in the vicinity to deter Iranian attacks. Trump signalled that diplomatic efforts remain open alongside the military operation, saying his representatives are engaged in “very positive discussions” with Tehran that could lead to a resolution. On Sunday, ships near the strait faced attacks for the first time since April 22, with an unidentified cargo vessel struck by multiple small craft, and a tanker reporting hits from unknown projectiles off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
President Donald Trump on Sunday launched a military-backed maritime operation to guide stranded foreign vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any Iranian interference would be met with force. Trump announced the campaign, dubbed Project Freedom, at the request of co…
See this event through different lenses
Compare how Western, Iranian, Israeli, Global South, and Pro-Peace perspectives frame this event.
Compare PerspectivesLoading notes...
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.