Donald Trump's promise to use the US Navy to shepherd trapped vessels through the Strait of Hormuz has drawn skepticism from the global shipping industry, which fears the plan may not guarantee safe passage and could even invite fresh conflict.
The president announced "Project Freedom" on Monday, stating that American naval forces would "guide" stranded ships out of the waterway as a humanitarian operation. He framed the effort as benefiting the United States, Middle Eastern nations, and Iran specifically.
But confidence in the pledge crumbled quickly. Within hours, Iran's Fars news agency claimed a US warship had been struck by two missiles and forced to retreat after disregarding Iranian warnings. The Pentagon denied any ship had been hit. Brent crude oil jumped roughly 2 percent to $110.36 a barrel on the conflicting accounts.
More than 850 vessels remain trapped in the Gulf, and Trump offered no detailed roadmap for extracting them. His statement said he had instructed representatives to tell shipping companies that the US would use "best efforts" to move their ships and crews safely, but that operators would not return until the waterway was secure.
Sascha Meijer, general secretary of the Nautilus seafarers' union, said sailors would welcome protection but raised fundamental questions about the operation's viability. "Seafarers stuck in the strait would really appreciate protection to get ships sailing out," she said. "But is this protection sure? How about mines? Are the ships insured? Is this offer enough? It is really too soon to conclude if this is good news or creates more danger."
Raman Kapoor, an oil tanker captain stuck in the strait, told BBC Radio 4 he would not risk the voyage himself. "As a captain it is my duty as well to assess the situation. I have to take the consent of the whole crew, whether they are willing to put their lives at risk," Kapoor said. "It's a long process."
Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at shipping group Bimco, said the plan needed urgent clarification from Trump's team. "Without consent from Iran to let commercial ships transit safely through the strait of Hormuz, it is currently not clear whether the Iranian threat to ships can be degraded or suppressed," Larsen said.
He added that any attempt to move vessels "without coordination with Iran's military" risked reigniting hostilities in the region.
The Pentagon said Project Freedom would deploy guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, unmanned systems, and 15,000 service members. The Central Command confirmed that two US-flagged merchant vessels had successfully transited the strait.
The escalating crisis threatens global economic stability. Oil prices have climbed about 50 percent above pre-conflict levels, raising concerns about a potential recession.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's vague 'Project Freedom' announcement looks good on paper but ignores the core problem: Iran's consent and actual, enforceable safety guarantees are missing."
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