By Emmanuel M. Kangar, Jr.
Washington — Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that American forces will begin escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday, a move Iranian officials have sharply criticized.
In a post shared on Truth Social, President Trump said the initiative—dubbed “Project Freedom”—is aimed at assisting neutral countries whose ships have been affected by instability in the region.
“Countries from all over the world… have asked the United States if we could help free up their ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote. “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… This process… will begin Monday morning, Middle East time.”
Iran, however, has warned that such actions would be viewed as a violation of existing arrangements governing the strategic waterway. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Committee, cautioned against U.S. involvement.
“Any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire,” Azizi said in a statement posted on social media. “The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf would not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has long been a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions. The latest exchange raises concerns about potential disruptions to international shipping and broader regional stability.
There has been no indication of immediate diplomatic engagement between the two sides, as the situation continues to develop.
