As you know, President Trump has directed U.S. Central Command to restart the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz under the umbrella of Project Freedom.

To be clear, this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury.

Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope, and temporary in duration, with one

mission, protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression.

American forces won't need to enter Iranian waters or airspace.

It's not necessary.

We're not looking for a fight, but Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries

and their goods from an international waterway.

Iran is the clear aggressor, harassing civilian vessels, threatening mariners from every

nation, indiscriminately, and weaponizing a critical choke

point for its own financial benefit, at least trying to. For too long, Iran has been harassing

ships, shooting at civilian tankers from all nations, and trying to impose a tolling system.

Iran's plan, a form of international extortion, is unacceptable.

That ends with Project Freedom.

Two U.S. commercial ships, along with American destroyers,

have already safely transited the strait,

showing the lane is clear. We know the

Iranians are embarrassed by this fact. They said they control the strait. They do not. So American

ships led the way, commercial and military, shouldering the initial risk from the front, as Americans

always do. And right now,

hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit. Centcom, along with

partner nations, is in active communication with hundreds of ships, shipping companies, and insurers.

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