The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that two US-flagged merchant vessels “successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey.”
In a statement on X, CENTCOM said that guided-missile destroyers were deployed to guarantee safe passage for US forces that are “actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping.”
The statement on X said that the destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz “in support of Project Freedom.” It did not say when the Navy ships arrived or when the merchant vessels departed.
This comes after the US military denied claims that Iran struck a Navy vessel as Washington launched a naval mission dubbed “Project Freedom.” US forces now offer to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds have been stuck since the Iran war began.
A number of Iranian news agencies had earlier claimed that Iran struck a US vessel near an Iranian port southeast of the strait, accusing it of “violating maritime security and navigation norms.” The reports said the vessel was forced to turn back. However, the US Central Command said on social media that “no U.S. Navy ships have been struck.”
The US military has said that “Project Freedom,” announced by President Donald Trump, might involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members but has not specified what kind of assistance it would provide.
The disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has squeezed countries in Europe and Asia that depend on Persian Gulf oil and gas, raising prices far beyond the region. Trump has promised to bring down gas prices as he faces midterm elections this year.
The US has warned shipping companies they could face sanctions for paying Iran for transit of the strait. It has enacted a naval blockade on Iranian ports since April 13, telling 49 commercial ships to turn back, US Central Command said Sunday.
The blockade has deprived Tehran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy. US officials have expressed hope that the blockade forces Iran back to the negotiation table.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Sunday, “We think that they’ve gotten less than $1.3 million in tolls, which is a pittance on their previous daily oil revenues,” adding that Iran’s oil storage is rapidly filling up and “they’re going to have to start shutting in wells, which we think could be in the next week.”
Iran’s latest 14-point proposal for ending the war, made public over the weekend, calls for the US lifting sanctions, ending the US naval blockade, withdrawing forces from the region and ceasing all hostilities, including Israel’s operations in Lebanon, according to the news agencies which have close ties to Iran’s security organizations.
Iranian officials said that they were reviewing the US response, though Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters that changing demands, which he did not detail, made diplomacy difficult. Iran has claimed its proposal does not include issues related to its nuclear program and enriched uranium — long a driving force in tensions with the US and Israel.
Iran’s proposal wants other issues resolved within 30 days and aims to end the war rather than extend the ceasefire. Trump on Saturday said he was reviewing the proposal but expressed doubt it would lead to a deal.
Ships Advised To Cross Strait of Hormuz In Oman’s Waters
The US-led Joint Maritime Information Center has advised ships to cross the strait in Oman’s waters, saying it set up an “enhanced security area.”
It was unclear whether whether shipping companies, and their insurers, will feel comfortable taking the risk given that Iran has fired on ships in the waterway and vowed to keep doing so.
The Joint Maritime Information Center urged mariners to coordinate closely with Omani authorities “due to anticipated high traffic volume.” It warned that passing close to usual routes, known as the traffic separation scheme, “should be considered extremely hazardous due to the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated.”
However, the Head of security for the Baltic and International Maritime Council, a leading shipping trade group, said that no formal guidance or details about the US effort had been issued to the industry.
Jakob Larsen questioned whether the effort was sustainable in the long run or envisioned as a more limited operation, and said there is a “risk of hostilities breaking out again” if it goes ahead.
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