Inside Trump Strait of Hormuz Plan: How ‘Project Freedom’ Aims to Free Hundreds of Ships

Trump’s Strait of Hormuz plan, dubbed “Project Freedom,” was announced on Sunday via Truth Social as a “humanitarian” operation to escort stranded vessels out of a chokepoint now under Iranian control.

Trump Strait of Hormuz plan: objectives and risks

The U.S. says it will deploy guided‑missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and roughly 15,000 troops to shepherd ships that have been trapped since early March. “We will guide their ships safely,” the former president wrote, warning that any interference “will be dealt with forcefully.”

“Any American interference will be considered a cease‑fire violation,”

warned Iran’s National Security Commission chief Ebrahim Azizi on Reuters. The blockade, in place since April 13, has already forced ↑ 49 commercial vessels to turn back, according to CENTCOM. Oil prices have jumped ↓ 20% since the strait closed, while grain and petrochemical shipments are stalled worldwide. The International Maritime Organization estimates roughly 2,000 ships and about 20,000 seafarers are stuck in the Persian Gulf. Most are low on food, water and fuel, many hailing from India and Southeast Asia. Analysts say the U.S. Navy lacks the assets to escort every craft; only a dozen warships could provide direct protection, according to retired Marine Jonathan Hackett. “The maths simply do not work out,” he told Al Jazeera.

Geopolitical backdrop

The strait carries about 20% of global oil trade, and its closure has rattled markets, prompting a Bloomberg warning of a possible global recession. Tehran insists it will retain control after hostilities cease, while Washington maintains that freedom of navigation cannot be compromised. Ongoing back‑channel talks mediated by Pakistan aim to revive the April 8 cease‑fire, but key issues – Iranian nuclear concessions and the lifting of sanctions – remain deadlocked. The next few days will determine whether Trump’s Strait of Hormuz plan escalates into a broader confrontation or merely a symbolic rescue effort.

Dispatch from: Vance Sterling

Crisis & Global Conflict Director