Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the operation is aimed at protecting maritime commerce. He described the effort as limited in scope and focused on reopening a critical global trade route.
“President [Donald J.] 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,” Hegseth said. “Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope, temporary in duration [and] with one mission: protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression.”
Hegseth said U.S. forces will not need to enter Iranian waters or airspace. He added that Iran must not be allowed to disrupt international trade routes.
“Iran … cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway,” he said. “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.”
He said two U.S. commercial vessels, accompanied by American destroyers, have already transited the strait. The movement was intended to demonstrate that Iran does not control the waterway.
“We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this fact,” Hegseth said. “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.”
Hegseth added that additional vessels are preparing to transit the route. He said U.S. Central Command and partner nations are coordinating with shipping companies and insurers to facilitate movement.
Air Force Gen. Dan Caine said more than 1,500 vessels and approximately 22,500 mariners are currently in the Persian Gulf. He said the situation has developed over several weeks of threats and attacks.
“Over the past seven weeks, Iran has repeatedly threatened and attacked commercial shipping in the strait in order to effectively cut off commercial traffic and damage the global economy,” Caine said. “By obstructing one of the world’s most critical maritime checkpoints, a vital transit route for approximately one-fifth of the global oil consumption, Iran is weaponizing the global supply chain.”
Caine said U.S. Central Command has established an enhanced security area in the southern part of the strait. The area is protected by U.S. land, naval and air forces.
“Project Freedom is designed to protect commercial shipping and help restore the flow of commerce through the strait and sustain freedom of navigation,” he said. “Centcom has established an enhanced security area on the southern side of the strait that is now protected by U.S. land, naval and air assets to help defeat further Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.”
He said U.S. forces are using guided missile destroyers and other warships to counter threats. These include fast boats and one-way attack drones.
Caine added that more than 100 aircraft are operating over the Persian Gulf. These include fighters, attack aircraft and unmanned systems providing continuous coverage.
“[They] are in the air 24 hours a day, providing defensive overwatch for the enhanced security area and its approaches,” he said. The operation is supported by more than 15,000 U.S. service members.
“Commercial vessels that transit through the area will see, hear and frankly, feel U.S. combat power around them, on the sea, in the skies and on the radio,” Caine said. “And as of this morning, as was mentioned prior, two U.S.-flag merchant vessels have transited, and we anticipate more to transit over the coming days.”
Source: U.S. Department of War.
