Translated material
"Project Freedom": Trump announced the start of a mission in the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump announced the launch of a mission to remove ships from third countries that are currently blocked in the Persian Gulf from the Strait of Hormuz, through which navigation has been seriously limited by Iran since early March.
“Countries around the world, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle East conflict that is so clearly and brutally unfolding in front of everyone, have asked the United States to help free their ships,” Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social. “For the good of Iran, the Middle East and the United States, we have assured these countries that we will safely remove their ships from these closed waterways so that they can continue their operations freely and effectively.”
The mission will be called Project Freedom and began on Monday May 4th. Trump said it was "a humanitarian gesture from the United States, from the Middle East, but also from Iran in particular." Many of these ships are running low on food supplies and everything else needed to keep large crews on board in healthy and sanitary conditions, he said.
It is unclear from Trump's message whether this mission has been agreed upon with Iran. Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee Ebrahim Asisi, in response to a message from the US President, said that any US interference in shipping issues in the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the ceasefire. The Iranian military command stated the same.
CENTCOM: American ships passed the Strait of Hormuz
Meanwhile, US Central Command said later on Monday that US destroyers had passed the Strait of Hormuz and were now operating in the Persian Gulf. With their assistance, two US-flagged commercial vessels are said to have successfully left the Gulf and passed the Strait of Hormuz, which connects it to the ocean. The Iranian side has not yet commented on these allegations.
US Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom. American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping. As a first step, 2 US-flagged merchant… pic.twitter.com/SVDxDhK72I
— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 4, 2026
Central Command previously said that the US military will provide support to merchant ships for unhindered passage through the Strait of Hormuz. As part of the project, the United States intends to involve guided missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-role unmanned platforms and 15,000 military personnel.
Was there an attack on an American ship?
The Iranian Fars agency, citing sources, reported later on Monday that Iran attacked an unnamed American ship in the Strait of Hormuz with two missiles, and it was forced to leave the strait. Oil prices reacted to this message by rising by several dollars per barrel. US Central Command said that "no US ships were hit" and that the US Navy continues to maintain the blockade of Iran and participate in Operation Project Freedom.
🚫 CLAIM: Iranian state media claims that Iran%27s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hit a US warship with two missiles. ✅ TRUTH: No US Navy ships have been struck. US forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports. pic.twitter.com/VFxovxLU6G
— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 4, 2026
Axios, citing two American officials, writes that the new US initiative in the Strait of Hormuz will not necessarily include US Navy ships escorting commercial vessels. One of the interlocutors said military vessels would be "in the vicinity" in case they needed to prevent the Iranian military from attacking commercial ships passing through the strait.
In addition, according to the publication's sources, the US Navy intends to transmit information to merchant ships about the safest sea routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian authorities insist that passage through the strait is impossible without their permission.
Trump's announcement comes amid reports of a new Iranian peace proposal. Iran insists on its demands, but agrees to unblock the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US lifting the naval blockade of Iran; negotiations on the nuclear program could take place after that. Trump said Iran's proposals remain unacceptable to him.
A ceasefire has been in effect in the region since early April, but shipping is severely limited due to blockades.
Radio Liberty news release:
"Project Freedom": Trump announced the start of a mission in the Strait of Hormuz