President Donald Trump announced that the United States will begin operations on Monday (May 4) to assist in "freeing" ships currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post shared Sunday (May 3) on his social media platform, Truth Social, the President unveiled the initiative, titled "Project Freedom."

Trump noted that U.S. negotiators are currently engaged in "very positive discussions" with Iran, which he suggested could lead to a favorable outcome for all parties involved.

"This shipping initiative is being undertaken to free the people, companies, and countries who have committed no crime," Trump wrote. "They are victims of the situation."

The President characterized the mission as a "humanitarian step," describing it as a gesture of goodwill from the U.S., Middle Eastern nations, and potentially Iran, particularly as many vessels face critical food shortages.

However, he cautioned that any interference with the operation would be met with a firm response.

Iran's Counter-Warning
The announcement drew an immediate and sharp rebuke from Tehran. Ibrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission, warned that any U.S. intervention in the new maritime governance of the Strait of Hormuz would be viewed as a "violation of the ceasefire."

Writing on the social media platform X late Sunday, Azizi stated that the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf would not be governed by President Trump’s "misleading posts."

Diplomatic Backchannel
Despite the heated rhetoric, diplomatic efforts appear to be moving behind the scenes. Iran has reportedly submitted a 14-point proposal to the United States via Pakistani mediation to end the ongoing conflict.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that Washington has responded to the proposal, which is currently under review in Tehran.

Baghaei clarified that the current plan is strictly focused on ending hostilities and does not include negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program at this stage.
Source: Al Jazeera