Trump says US to ‘guide’ stranded ships through Strait of Hormuz
AFP via Getty Images
The United States says it will on Monday begin trying to free merchant ships stranded by Iran's closure of the key shipping channel, the Strait of Hormuz, since the start of the war.
US President Donald Trump said "Project Freedom" was a "humanitarian gesture" and that any interference would "be dealt with forcefully".
Some 15,000 US service personnel, guided-missile destroyers and more than 100 aircraft would be involved, US Central Command (Centcom) said, adding that the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue.
The move comes as the two countries observe a temporary ceasefire, which began on 8 April, and as they work on agreeing on a permanent peace plan.
However a senior Iranian official warned that any US attempt to interfere in the str...