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On Sunday, former President Donald Trump announced that the United States is set to play an active role in unblocking ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil shipments, which has been obstructed amidst tensions with Iran.
“Nations worldwide, many of which are not directly involved in the ongoing, highly visible conflict in the Middle East, have approached the United States for assistance in freeing their vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump explained in a post on Truth Social. “These countries, completely neutral and innocent, have found their ships caught in a situation they have no part in.”
He emphasized, “In the interest of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have assured these countries that we will navigate their ships safely out of these constrained waters, allowing them to continue their trade activities without hindrance.”
Trump revealed that this initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” is slated to commence on Monday morning, according to Middle Eastern time.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been restricted by the Iranian military due to ongoing conflicts involving the U.S. and Israel, leading to a surge in oil prices. As reported by AAA, the average gasoline price in the United States has risen to approximately $4.45 per gallon, compared to around $3.17 at the same time last year.
The conflict against Iran just stretched into its second month, with polls showing widespread disapproval of the fighting among Americans. Trump’s disapproval rating recently reached a new high in a recent poll, with 62 percent of Americans disapproving of the president.
On Sunday, White House National Economic Council Director said that energy shocks from the conflict with Iran would affect airline profits for at least a quarter.
“Certainly, it’ll affect profits for the airlines for a quarter or so, but they’re very, very healthy right now,” Hassett said in the wake of Spirit Airlines’ decision to cease operations.