Donald Trump launches operation to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, Iran warns against any American interference

Starting Monday morning, the US Navy will escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz from countries “unrelated to the Middle East conflict”.

A new development in the Middle East conflict. Donald Trump announced an operation starting Monday, May 4 to unblock ships that have been stranded in the Gulf for two months. However, Tehran quickly warned that any American intervention in the Strait of Hormuz would be seen as a violation of the ceasefire.

The US president, who initiated hostilities against Iran on February 28 with Israel, mentioned on Sunday evening “a humanitarian gesture” and “goodwill” towards the stranded sailors due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that starting Monday morning, the US Navy will escort ships from countries “unrelated to the Middle East conflict“.

He also cautioned that if the operation, named Project Freedom, was hindered by Iran, it would “unfortunately have to be dealt with by force“. However, he acknowledged “very positive discussions with Tehran through Pakistan. In a statement, the US military command for the Middle East specified that the operation would involve missile-launching destroyers, over a hundred aircraft, and 15,000 soldiers.

This operation is not welcomed by Iran, which has warned against a violation of the ceasefire in place since April 8. “Any American intervention in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire,” cautioned the President of the Iranian Parliament’s Security and National Defense Commission, Ebrahim Azizi.

Since the start of hostilities, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil consumption typically passes. Washington responded in early April by blocking Iranian ports in return.

“The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has enormous implications for the Indo-Pacific,” emphasized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a visit to Australia on Monday, as the region heavily relies on the Middle East for its energy. The blockade of the strait caused oil prices to surge to the highest since 2022 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prices stabilized on Asian markets on Monday, with a barrel of Brent, the global benchmark, inching up 0.39% to $108.59, far from the $126 surpassed on Thursday.