On his Truth Social network, the American president announced that the navy would escort ships owned by countries “not involved” in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The US Navy will begin escorting ships from third countries blocked through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday, Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, May 3.
“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have informed these countries that we would guide their ships safely through these waterways,” the American president wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to ships owned by countries “not involved” in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
“Countries from around the world, which have nothing to do with the conflict in the Middle East (…) have asked the United States if we could help release their boats that are blocked in the Strait of Hormuz,” the American president reminded.
The number of commercial vessels of all categories present in the Gulf stood at 913 on April 29, AXSMarine, a company specializing in maritime tracking, reported on Thursday.
A gesture of “goodwill”
“I told my representatives to inform them that we would do our best to get their boats and crews out of the strait. In any case, they said they would not return to the region until it is safe for navigation,” Donald Trump added.
“This process, Project Freedom, will start Monday morning, Middle East time,” Donald Trump added, speaking of a “humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, the countries of the Middle East, and in particular Iran.”
“It is a gesture of ‘goodwill on behalf of all those who have fought so hard in recent months,'” he emphasized.
However, he warned that if this operation were to be hindered, it would “unfortunately have to be dealt with by force.”
