Trump Announces US Plan to Guide Stranded Ships in Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the United States will begin guiding neutral ships trapped in the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning, Middle East time, as part of an initiative called "Project Freedom" to partially reopen the strait amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.

According to multiple reports, including from Javier Blas on X and the Financial Times, Trump stated the US would help free vessels stranded due to the conflict. The announcement follows reports of attacks on two cargo vessels in the strait, as detailed by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre and covered by ABC News.

The initiative will not necessarily involve direct escorts by US Navy ships, but rather positioning them in the vicinity to deter potential Iranian attacks, according to US officials cited by ZeroHedge and HotAir. Axios, via US officials, reported that any interference with the mission would be dealt with forcefully.

Two US carrier strike groups remain in the Middle East, with the USS Gerald R. Ford heading home, according to The War Zone Wire.

Iran's military warned that US forces would be attacked if they enter the Strait of Hormuz, following Trump's announcement. "US forces will be attacked if they enter the Strait of Hormuz," Iran's military said, according to AFP. Reuters reported Iran's military explicitly warned US forces not to enter the strait, viewing the mission as an intrusion.

Market reactions varied following the announcement. US oil prices fell below $100 per barrel, according to the KobeissiLetter on X. Stock futures rose and oil prices declined, as reported by MarketWatch. However, Al Jazeera English stated that oil prices have failed to ease despite the US announcement.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that European nations have "gotten the message" from President Trump regarding their reluctance to assist in the Iran war and are implementing agreements on military base usage, according to the Jerusalem Post and Bloomberg. European countries' participation in the operation has not been confirmed in public statements as of May 3, 2026.