Trump Announces Escort Operation in the Strait of Hormuz; Iran: Deems It a Violation of Ceasefire

The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked by Iran for over two months, leaving hundreds of merchant ships stranded in the Persian Gulf, with food and drinking supplies running critically low. U.S. President Trump announced that, out of humanitarian concern, he has decided to launch an escort operation to guide vessels out; however, the Iranian government stated that any U.S. intervention would be regarded as a violation of the ceasefire.

U.S. President Trump said on Sunday, May 3, that the United States would begin the escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday, April 4, to help ships trapped by Iran's blockade escape.

In a post on the "Truth Social" platform, Trump wrote: "Countries around the world are asking the U.S. to rescue their ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz—most of these nations have no connection whatsoever to this highly visible and violent conflict in the Middle East... For the sake of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have informed these countries that we will safely guide their vessels out of the restricted waterway so they can resume free navigation."

Trump described the stranded crews as "victims of circumstance," emphasizing that the U.S. humanitarian effort was driven by moral obligation. He added: "If this humanitarian action faces any form of interference, regrettably, we will have no choice but to respond with force."

This escort mission is named "Project Freedom." Trump’s post did not provide further specific details about the plan, but according to U.S. Central Command, American forces will deploy missile-armed destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and drones, and 15,000 military personnel.

About one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, Iran has strictly controlled maritime access to the strait, effectively blockading it. This has left numerous vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf, disrupting global shipping and threatening energy supplies.

According to maritime intelligence firm AXSMarine, as of April 29, over 900 commercial vessels remained stranded in the Persian Gulf. The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization estimates that approximately 20,000 crew members and port workers have been affected, with many onboard ships experiencing dwindling supplies. According to Reuters, these crew members—many from India and other South and Southeast Asian nations—are under severe psychological stress due to being near the U.S.-Iran conflict zone, having witnessed drones and missiles exploding in the sea nearby.

Trump stated that U.S. representatives are currently in communication with Iran regarding the escort mission. However, Iran’s Parliament Security Committee Chairman Ebrahim Azizi posted on X (formerly Twitter) on April 4: "Any U.S. interference in the new maritime order of the Strait of Hormuz will be seen as a violation of the ceasefire." Iran’s state-run news agency, IRNA, dismissed Trump’s statements as "nonsense." On April 3, Deputy Speaker of Iran’s Parliament Ali Nikzad firmly declared that Iran would not compromise on its stance regarding the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the region could never return to its pre-war status.

Since April 13, the U.S. has also begun blocking ships departing from Iranian ports as a countermeasure. According to U.S. government data, by May 3, a total of 49 cargo ships had been intercepted. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that under America’s naval blockade, Iran’s daily toll revenue has dropped to less than $1.3 million—far below its previous oil earnings.

Ceasefire negotiations continue

The U.S. and Iran initially agreed to a two-week ceasefire at the beginning of April. Trump repeatedly issued ultimatums to Iran, but just before the ceasefire expired, he announced an indefinite extension. After the first round of peace talks, the second round—originally scheduled for late April in Pakistan—ultimately collapsed.

Last Thursday, April 30, the Iranian government proposed a new ceasefire plan. On May 3, Iran stated it had received and was reviewing the U.S. response. Iran’s media outlet Mizan, affiliated with the judiciary, cited Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as saying Iran is currently “not holding nuclear talks.”

According to a senior Iranian official quoted by Reuters, Tehran hopes to first end the war and resolve the maritime standoff before addressing nuclear issues.

According to semi-official Iranian outlets such as Nour News and Tasnim, Iran’s 14-point proposal demands that the U.S. lift sanctions and maritime blockade, withdraw troops from neighboring regions, and cease all hostile actions—including Israel’s military operations in Lebanon. Al Jazeera reported that the plan is structured in three phases, transitioning from ceasefire to permanent peace within 30 days.

Iran possesses a large stockpile of enriched uranium. The U.S. believes Iran is just one step away from producing weapons-grade enrichment. Although Iran maintains that its materials are for peaceful purposes, the U.S. still views its nuclear program as a threat—a key point of contention behind the outbreak of hostilities.

Regarding whether Iran’s proposal can be realized, Trump expressed skepticism last weekend. However, he later posted on Truth Social stating that both sides are engaged in "very positive discussions" that could lead to "a very positive outcome for all parties involved."

Source: DW

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864277197063179/

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