BREITBART NEWS; President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the United States will begin what he dubbed “Project Freedom” on Monday to guide and free foreign ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any interference with the humanitarian operation “will be dealt with forcefully” as vessels he described as “neutral and innocent bystanders” remain stranded amid the conflict.

In a Truth Social post, President Trump said countries “from all over the World” that are not party to the ongoing regional conflict have asked Washington to help free ships “locked up in the Strait of Hormuz,” describing them as “neutral and innocent bystanders.”

Iran claimed the ship was off the port of Jask in the Gulf of Oman at the time of their attack and it had been on course to attempt a transit of the Strait of Hormuz, and that the attack had been launched after ignoring Iranian warnings to turn back.

President Trump announced Project Freedom on Sunday, a humanitarian mission to guide merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz for the good of “neutral and innocent bystanders” and the world economy.

“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” he wrote, adding that U.S. representatives have been directed to “use best efforts” to secure the safe departure of both vessels and crews.

https://www.breitbart.com/t/assets/html/tweet-5.html#2051038510115868802 President Trump framed the operation as a humanitarian mission, emphasizing that many vessels are “running low on food, and everything else necessary” to sustain large crews, calling them “victims of circumstance.”

He coupled that message with a clear warning: “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”