Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States will initiate efforts to guide neutral ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz this week as a "humanitarian gesture" amidst the ongoing Middle East crisis.
According to Yonhap News Agency, approximately 2,000 vessels are currently trapped in the vital waterway, including 26 ships flying the South Korean flag. The strait has remained effectively closed since late February after U.S.-Israeli military actions on Iran initiated the conflict. Trump, through a post on his Truth Social platform, emphasized the impact on "neutral and innocent" countries and declared that the U.S. will assist in safely navigating their ships out, under the operation named "Project Freedom."
The operation is set to commence on Monday morning (Middle East time), with Trump cautioning that any interference will be "dealt with forcefully." U.S. Central Command confirmed via a post on X that it will support the initiative, deploying guided-missile destroyers, aircraft, drones, and 15,000 service members. However, the specific countries benefiting from this U.S. intervention were not disclosed.
The Iranian government has criticized the U.S. move. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security commission, stated on X that any American action in the strait would be viewed as a breach of the ceasefire. He asserted that the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf would not be subject to what he termed Trump's "delusional posts."
South Korea's presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, expressed that it is closely monitoring developments following Trump's statements and is maintaining communication with Washington. An official stated that the South Korean government hopes for the swift restoration and normalization of the global maritime logistics network.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has significantly disrupted global energy and goods supplies, as around 20 percent of the world's oil and natural gas trade transits through the waterway. In early April, Trump extended a ceasefire deadline, urging Iran to propose a new peace plan while intensifying pressure with naval blockades and economic sanctions. However, peace negotiations have stalled since a direct meeting between the involved parties in Islamabad last month ended without a resolution.