Trump’s ‘Operation Freedom’: Can the US Navy Lead Stranded Ships Out of Hormuz?

US President Donald Trump declared that Washington would guide ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz to safety under an initiative dubbed 'Operation Freedom', a move seen as a potential challenge to Iran's blockade of the strategic waterway.

“The movement of ships is solely to free people, companies, and countries that have done nothing wrong – they are victims of circumstance,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday (local time), calling it a “humanitarian gesture”.

According to the US president, the operation is being conducted at the request of nations with vessels trapped in the strait, which he described as “neutral and innocent bystanders”.

Trump added that US envoys are holding “active” talks with Iran, but warned that any interference with the operation would be “met with force”. It remains unclear how the mission will be carried out, as Iran has warned ships not to enter the strait.

On Monday (the first day of the rescue operation for stranded vessels), a US warship was struck by an Iranian Navy missile near Jask, within the strait between Iran and Oman. The US has rejected Iran's account, but the incident has raised concerns about escalating hostilities.

Maritime traffic through the strait has been disrupted since Tehran seized control of the vital waterway days after the US and Israel launched strikes on February 28. The war and disruption at the strait have sent oil prices soaring and severely impacted the global economy. The US naval blockade of Iranian ports has further heightened tensions.

Tehran and Washington have exchanged proposals through Pakistani mediators to end the war since a ceasefire took effect on April 8, but no broader agreement has been reached.

Iran demands a permanent end to hostilities, while Trump insists Tehran must first lift what he calls the blockade of the strait – a route that handles about one-fifth of global oil and gas exports. The US president has also reiterated that Iran's nuclear program remains a “red line”.

Both sides continue to intercept and target vessels amid an ongoing naval confrontation, raising questions about how Tehran and Washington can lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and achieve a lasting peace deal.

What is the purpose of 'Operation Freedom'?

Trump said the operation will ensure the safety of stranded ships. “We will guide their vessels out of these restricted waterways safely, so they can freely and conveniently resume their business,” he wrote.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it would support the effort, alongside a broader State Department initiative – the Maritime Freedom Framework – aimed at improving coordination and information sharing among international partners.

According to CENTCOM, the US deployment could include destroyers, over 100 aircraft, unmanned platforms, and approximately 15,000 military personnel.

Jonathan Hackett, a former US Marine Corps special operations expert and ex-counterintelligence agent, said the initiative reflects a narrowing of US objectives.

“When the conflict began, the stated goals were regime change and neutralizing Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities,” Hackett told Al Jazeera. “Those goalposts have shifted to a more economic outcome, focused on the Strait of Hormuz.”

He warned that any confrontation at sea could escalate quickly. “If we have opposing encounters, the US won’t just be escorting ships – it will be protecting them. That creates a new risk calculus, especially for insurance companies.”

Hackett also questioned whether the US has sufficient resources. “Only about a dozen Navy ships are capable of protecting maritime traffic,” he said. “Before the war, over 100 ships passed through the strait daily. The numbers simply don’t stack up.”

Analysts suggest the initiative may also aim to stabilize global markets. Despite the ceasefire, Iran's blockade and US naval pressure have driven up oil prices, causing economic strain and domestic political pressure on the US.

The announcement comes amid stalled diplomacy. Iran has proposed a 14-point plan to end the war, but Trump called it “unacceptable”. Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was assessing Washington's response to its proposal.

How many ships are stranded?

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates that up to 20,000 seafarers are stranded on around 2,000 vessels in the Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. These include oil tankers, cargo ships, bulk carriers, and cruise ships.

Since the conflict began, the IMO has recorded at least 19 attacks on vessels, killing 10 seafarers and injuring 8. The IMO warns that many ships are critically low on food, fuel, and water.

“There is no precedent for so many seafarers being stranded in modern times,” said Damien Chevallier, Director of the IMO's Maritime Safety Division.

The organization has called on all parties to de-escalate to allow crew evacuations. However, incidents along the strait continue, with the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reporting that a tanker off the UAE's Fujairah port was hit by an unknown object, though all crew were safe. Hours earlier, UKMTO said a bulk carrier was attacked by multiple small aircraft off the Iranian coast.

How has Iran responded?

Iran insists that vessels passing through the strait must pay fees and follow routes approved by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Following Trump's announcement, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security Committee, warned that any US interference would violate the ceasefire. “The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf will not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts,” he wrote on X.

Meanwhile, US naval forces have begun mine-clearing operations in the strait, though clearing the area could take weeks or months.

Hackett pointed to two immediate risks: mines and Iran's naval capabilities. “The US no longer has dedicated minesweepers,” he said. “And Iran still has significant capabilities, including fast attack craft that can harass or block shipping.”

He also highlighted the role of insurance companies. “Even if passage is declared safe, the question is whether companies are willing to risk ships and crews without guarantees.”

Hackett added that framing 'Operation Freedom' as humanitarian raises further questions. “If this is to help stranded seafarers, how long have they been there? Are there resources? And what happens if those seafarers come from countries with which the US has strained relations?”

Harlan Ullman, a former US naval officer and chairman of the Killowen Group, told Al Jazeera that the operation could reduce tensions – but only if Iran allows it. “If this is a prelude to negotiations and Iran permits transit, it could be a positive step,” Ullman said. “But if the strait is mined or Iran resists, this could become very dangerous. Iran has drones and fast boats that can cause trouble. Any attack on a US warship would almost certainly trigger retaliation.”

Ullman emphasized that diplomacy remains essential for a lasting peace deal. “The only solution is to reopen the strait, followed by sustained negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. If this is well-calibrated, it could help. If not, it risks escalation.”

Is there a precedent for this?

The current situation resembles the Tanker War of the 1980s, during the Iran-Iraq conflict, when both sides attacked tankers in the Gulf.

That war began in 1980 when Iraq invaded Iran. By 1984, it had expanded into the Gulf, with attacks on tankers aimed at choking economic lifelines. Iran responded by targeting vessels linked to Iraq and its allies.

In 1987, the US launched Operation Earnest Will, escorting Kuwaiti tankers reflagged under US protection. The following year, the US frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts was heavily damaged by an Iranian mine, leading to Operation Praying Mantis, a major US assault on Iranian naval forces. Gulf hostilities subsided in 1988 after a UN-mediated ceasefire between Iran and Iraq.