Donald Trump announces project to help stranded ships leave Strait of Hormuz

Ships and seafarers, many on oil and gas tankers and cargo ships, have been stuck in the Persian Gulf since the war began.

US President Donald Trump has said a project will start on Monday to help stranded ships leave the Strait of Hormuz, but offered few details.

In a social media post Mr Trump said “neutral and innocent” countries have been affected by the Iran war, and “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”.

He said “Project Freedom” would begin on Monday morning in the Middle East.

He added that his representatives are having discussions with Iran that could lead to something “very positive for all”.

Ships and seafarers, many on oil and gas tankers and cargo ships, have been stuck in the Persian Gulf since the war began.

Crew members have described to The Associated Press watching intercepted drones and missiles explode over the waters, and running low on drinking water, food and other supplies.

Many sailors come from India and other countries in south and southeast Asia.

“They are victims of circumstance,” Mr Trump wrote, and described the effort as a humanitarian gesture “on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran”.

But he sounded a warning: “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.” Mr Trump’s statement was quickly shared by some Iranian outlets, which described his announcement as a “claim.” 

It came after a bulk carrier near the Strait of Hormuz reported being attacked by multiple small craft, marking at least two dozen attacks in and around the strait since the Iran war began.

Meanwhile, Tehran said it was reviewing the US response to its latest proposal on ending the war but made clear these were not nuclear negotiations, Iran’s judiciary Mizan news agency cited Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei as saying.

All crew on the unidentified northbound carrier were safe after the attack off Sirik, Iran, east of the strait, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said.

Iranian officials have asserted that they control the strait and that ships not affiliated with the United States or Israel can pass if they pay a toll.

Iran denied an attack, the semiofficial Iranian outlets Fars and Tabnak reported, and said a passing ship had been stopped for a documents check as part of monitoring.

The monitor said it was the first reported attack in the area since April 22, when a cargo shop reported being fired upon.

The threat level in the area remains critical. Tehran effectively closed the strait by attacking and threatening ships.

Iranian patrol boats, some powered only by twin outboard motors, are small, nimble and hard to detect and have attacked several ships. US President Donald Trump last month ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines in the strait.

The fragile three-week ceasefire appears to be holding, though Mr Trump on Saturday told journalists that further strikes remained a possibility.