Trump says US to 'guide' stranded ships through Strait of Hormuz

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Trump says US to 'guide' stranded ships through Strait of Hormuz 6 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Joe Inwood and James Chater via Getty Images President Donald Trump has said that the US will help guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz from Monday. "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," he said in a post on social media without specifying which countries. Trump said any interference in the process, which he called "Project Freedom", will "have to be dealt with forcefully".

Iran has severely limited traffic through the vital shipping waterway since the war began in February. The US has also enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports. In the post, Trump also said that US representatives were having "very positive" discussions with Iran, and that those talks "could lead to something very positive for all".

The Details

Trump added the operation would be a "humanitarian gesture" made on behalf of the US, Iran and other Middle Eastern nations, without listing which countries. He did not provide further details on how co-operation with Tehran would be managed. "In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else...

The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong," Trump continued. US Central Command said that 15,000 personnel, guided-missile destroyers and more than 100 aircraft would be involved in "Project Freedom". An estimated 20,000 sailors have been trapped in the Gulf since the start of the war with Iran.

There has been growing concern over dwindling supplies and the effects on sailors' physical and mental health. About 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually passes through the strait and the conflict has sent global energy prices soaring. Late on Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Transportation Operation (UKMTO) reported that a tanker had been hit by an "unknown projectile" in the strait, adding that the crew were safe.

What Experts Say

Trump's announcement came after Iranian state-linked media said Tehran had received a US response to its latest peace proposal. Iran said the response, delivered via Pakistan, was being reviewed, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. The US is yet to formally confirm it has replied to Iran.

However, Trump reportedly told Israel's Kan News on Sunday that the proposal was unacceptable to him. Iranian state media said Tehran's 14-point peace plan asked for Washington to withdraw its forces from near Iran's borders and end its naval blockade of Iranian ports, and for all hostilities to cease - including Israel's offensive in Lebanon. It also called for an agreement between the two countries to be reached within 30 days.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.