President Donald Trump said the U.S. will begin guiding some neutral ships trapped in the Persian Gulf out through the Strait of Hormuz starting May 4.
“The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance,” Trump wrote on May 3 in a social media post. “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
Trump didn’t elaborate in the post on the specific steps the U.S. would take to help ships exit the strait. U.S. Central Command said on May 3 that it would provide military support to restore commercial shipping through Hormuz, including the use of guided-missile destroyers, aircraft and drones.
This new effort does not currently involve U.S. Navy escorts — according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited an unnamed U.S. official — but rather a coordination process for countries, insurance companies and shipping organizations.
“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of Central Command, said in a news release.
Trump said that U.S. representatives are having “very positive discussions” with Iran that could lead to something “very positive for all,” but didn’t offer additional details.
