Photo credit: Centcom
US military forces starting Monday will guide commercial shipping from “neutral and innocent” countries through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Central Command and a social media post by President Donald Trump.
Stars and Stripes reports that on Monday President Trump wrote on social media, “For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”
The US Navy is blockading Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz as part of its war against Iran. At the same time, Iran is threatening to attack any vessel that attempts to navigate the strait without its permission.
“Again, these are Ships from areas of the world that are not in any way involved with that which is currently taking place in the Middle East. I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use the best efforts to get their ships and crews safely out of the Strait,” Trump wrote.
Trump’s post referred to the operation as a humanitarian gesture “on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.” He added: “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
Project Freedom “will support merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the essential international trade corridor. A quarter of the world’s oil trade at sea and significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer products are transported through the strait,” according to a news release Sunday from the command.
The project is part of a partnership between the State and Defence departments – the Maritime Freedom Construct – announced last week “to enhance coordination and information sharing among international partners in support of maritime security in the strait,” according to the command.
The US naval blockade that began April 13 targets Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. Over the previous 20 days, at least 48 vessels were redirected to ensure compliance with the blockade, according to CENTCOM on Saturday.
