The United States announced plans to assist ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing conflict in the region, President Donald Trump said Sunday. Trump described the initiative, dubbed "Project Freedom," as a humanitarian effort aimed at safely guiding vessels through the Iran-controlled waterway, which has effectively been closed since the outbreak of war on February 28.

In a social media statement, Trump emphasized that the U.S. intends to help "neutral and innocent" countries whose maritime traffic has been impacted. He estimated the operation would begin Monday morning and could benefit hundreds of ships and approximately 20,000 seafarers, many of whom are on oil tankers and cargo vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf. Trump noted ongoing discussions with Iran that he hopes will yield "something very positive for all," but also issued a stern warning that any interference with the humanitarian mission "will have to be dealt with forcefully."

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil and gas trade passes, has sent shockwaves through global markets. Crew members aboard trapped vessels have reported dwindling supplies of food and fresh water, as well as frequent missile and drone strikes in the vicinity.

Sunday also saw a reported attack on an unidentified northbound cargo ship near the strait. The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations center stated the vessel came under assault from multiple small boats off Sirik, Iran, east of the strait, marking the first such incident since April 22. All crew members were reported safe. Iranian authorities denied the attack, stating the vessel had been halted for a routine document inspection, according to semiofficial Iranian outlets Fars and Tabnak.

Iran maintains it controls the strait and allows passage of non-U.S. or Israeli ships contingent on toll payments, a position that conflicts with international maritime law guaranteeing freedom of navigation. Tehran’s deputy parliament speaker, Ali Nikzad, reiterated Sunday that Iran would not revert the strait to prewar conditions.

Meanwhile, Iran is reviewing the U.S. response to its latest peace proposal, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei. The Iranian government asserts that these discussions do not pertain to nuclear negotiations at this stage. Tehran’s 14-point plan seeks an end to the war within 30 days through terms including the lifting of U.S. sanctions, cessation of the naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdrawal of foreign forces from the region, and a halt to hostilities involving Israel.

U.S. officials, including Trump, have expressed skepticism about the proposal’s viability. Pakistan continues to act as a mediator encouraging direct talks between Washington and Tehran, according to anonymous Pakistani officials. The fragile ceasefire, now in its third week, remains precarious as tensions continue to simmer around one of the world’s most strategically significant waterways.