Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The United States will begin an effort on Monday to “guide” stranded vessels out of the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said, as fresh attacks on ships underscored ongoing risks in the vital waterway.

Trump offered few operational details about the initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” which he said would help hundreds of vessels and roughly 20,000 seafarers affected by the conflict. Iran swiftly criticized the plan, calling it a violation of a fragile ceasefire.

In a social media post on Sunday, Trump said “neutral and innocent” countries had been impacted by the war involving Iran and pledged safe passage for their ships. He added that US representatives were in talks with Tehran that could yield a “very positive” outcome.

US Central Command said the operation could involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and 15,000 personnel, though the Pentagon did not immediately provide deployment details.

Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz — following the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on Feb. 28 — has rattled global markets. The waterway typically carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments.

Dozens of vessels, including oil tankers and cargo ships, have remained stranded in the Persian Gulf since the conflict began. Crew members have reported seeing drones and missiles intercepted overhead, while supplies of food and drinking water run low. Many seafarers are from South and Southeast Asia.

Trump described the effort as a humanitarian measure but warned that any interference would be met with force.

Iranian officials dismissed the announcement. State-run IRNA described it as “delirium,” while lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi said any outside intervention in the strait would violate the ceasefire.

The remarks came hours after Iran said it was reviewing a US response to its latest proposal to end the war, while clarifying that no nuclear negotiations were currently underway.

Ship Attacks Renew Concerns

Earlier Sunday, two vessels reported attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.

One cargo ship traveling near Sirik, Iran, said it was approached by multiple small craft, while a tanker reported being struck by “unknown projectiles” off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates late Sunday. No injuries were reported.

The incidents marked the first reported attacks in the area since April 22 and highlighted the persistent threat to shipping. Since the conflict began, at least two dozen incidents have been recorded in or near the strait.

Iran denied involvement, with semi-official outlets reporting that one vessel had been stopped for a routine document check.

The British monitoring center also said ships near Ras al-Khaimah received radio warnings to move from anchorage, though the source of the messages was unclear.

Diplomatic Efforts Continue

Tehran is reviewing Washington’s response to its latest proposal to end the war, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, according to Iran’s Mizan news agency. He reiterated that nuclear issues are not part of the current discussions.

Iran’s proposal reportedly includes lifting US sanctions, ending the naval blockade of Iranian ports, and withdrawing foreign forces from the region.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has continued to encourage direct talks between Washington and Tehran, with officials facilitating communication between both sides.

Despite diplomatic efforts, Iranian leaders signaled they would not retreat from their position on the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States has warned shipping companies against paying Iran for safe passage, saying such payments could trigger sanctions. US officials say the blockade has sharply reduced Iran’s oil revenues, with storage nearing capacity and potential well shutdowns looming.

The situation leaves global shipping in a precarious position, as Washington prepares to launch its escort effort amid ongoing uncertainty over the conflict’s trajectory.

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