Trump Announces U.S. Plan to Escort Stranded Ships from “Neutral and Innocent” Nations Out of the Strait of Hormuz, Suggests Favorable Iran Talks

(SeaPRwire) –   U.S. President Donald Trump announced a project that will begin on Monday to assist stranded ships in exiting the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed, though he provided few details.

In a social media post on Sunday, Trump stated that “neutral and innocent” countries have been impacted by the Iran war and that the United States has informed these nations it will guide their ships safely out of restricted waterways so they can continue their operations without hindrance.

The initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” is set to launch Monday morning in the Middle East. Trump also noted that his representatives are engaged in discussions with Iran that could result in “something very positive for all.”

Iran’s control over the strait—imposed after the United States and Israel launched military operations on February 28—has disrupted global markets.

Trump made these remarks hours after Iran indicated it was reviewing the U.S. response to its latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict, while clarifying that the talks do not involve nuclear issues.

Cargo ship attacked near the strait

A cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz reported being targeted by multiple small craft, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center earlier on Sunday. This incident marks the latest in a series of at least two dozen attacks in and around the strait since the Iran war began.

All crew members aboard the unidentified northbound cargo ship were unharmed following the attack off Sirik, Iran, east of the strait, as confirmed by the British monitoring agency. Iranian authorities claim full control over the strait and assert that non-U.S. or Israeli-affiliated vessels may pass through if they pay a toll, challenging the principle of freedom of navigation under international law.

Iran denied any involvement in the attack, with semi-official outlets Fars and Tabnak reporting instead that a passing ship had been stopped for routine document checks as part of maritime oversight.

The monitor noted that this was the first reported attack in the region since April 22. Tehran has effectively blocked the strait by targeting and threatening commercial traffic, leaving the security situation critically unstable.

Iranian patrol boats—many equipped only with twin outboard motors—are small, agile, and difficult to detect. Last month, Trump instructed U.S. forces to “shoot and kill” any Iranian boats deploying mines in the strait.

The fragile ceasefire, lasting three weeks, appears to be holding, although Trump told journalists on Saturday that additional military strikes remain a possibility.

Iran reviews U.S. response to latest proposal

Tehran is assessing the U.S. reply to its most recent peace initiative, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Mizan news agency, affiliated with Iran’s judiciary.

“At this stage, we are not conducting nuclear negotiations,” Baghaei emphasized. While Iran’s nuclear program and enriched uranium production have long been central to tensions with the U.S., Tehran prefers to address those matters separately.

According to state-linked media, Iran’s proposal seeks resolution of other outstanding issues within 30 days and aims to conclude the war rather than extend the current truce.

Trump acknowledged reviewing the proposal but expressed skepticism about its potential success, writing on social media that “they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done” in the nearly five decades since the Islamic Revolution.

Iran’s 14-point plan calls for the lifting of U.S. sanctions, an end to the naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdrawal of foreign forces from the region, and cessation of all hostilities—including Israeli operations in Lebanon—as reported by semiofficial agencies Nour News and Tasnim, which maintain close ties to Iran’s security apparatus.

Iran submitted its proposal via Pakistan, which hosted direct talks between Washington and Tehran last month.

Pakistan’s prime minister, foreign minister, and army chief continue to urge both the U.S. and Iran to pursue direct dialogue, according to two unnamed officials in Pakistan who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held conversations with counterparts in Oman—which facilitated prior rounds of negotiations before the outbreak of hostilities—as well as in Brazil and Spain.

Iran stands firm on Strait of Hormuz

Trump has proposed a strategy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, a vital artery where roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas, along with essential fertilizers for global agriculture, typically passes.

The British military monitor reported receiving information that vessels near Ras al-Khaimah, the northernmost emirate of the United Arab Emirates and close to the strait, had received radio warnings instructing them to depart anchorages. The source of these VHF messages remained unclear.

“We will not retreat from our stance on the Strait of Hormuz, nor will we return to pre-war conditions,” said Ali Nikzad, deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, during a visit to port facilities on strategic Larak Island.

The U.S. has warned shipping companies that they risk sanctions for paying Iran—in cash, digital assets, or otherwise—to ensure safe passage through the strait.

Meanwhile, the U.S.-imposed naval blockade since April 13 has cut off critical oil revenue for Tehran, undermining its struggling economy. The U.S. Central Command disclosed on Sunday that 49 commercial ships have been ordered to reverse course.

“We estimate they’ve collected less than $1.3 million in tolls—a negligible sum compared to their previous daily oil earnings,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Sunday. He added that Iran’s oil storage facilities are nearing capacity and predicted that “within the next week, they’ll have to start shutting in wells.”

Iran’s currency continues to decline

On Sunday, marking the second day of Iran’s workweek, the rial weakened further against the U.S. dollar. At Ferdowsi Street—the main currency exchange hub in Tehran—the dollar traded at 1,840,000 rials.

Analysts warn that the currency may weaken even more.

In December, the rial stood at 1.3 million per dollar, setting a historic low that sparked widespread protests over deteriorating economic conditions. Markets across Tehran remain volatile, with prices of certain goods rising daily.

As reported by Iranian media, several factories have declined to renew worker contracts following the Iranian New Year in March, resulting in significant job losses.

Yousef Pezeshkian, son and advisor to President Masoud Pezeshkian, wrote on Telegram that both the United States and Iran believe they have emerged victorious from the conflict and are unwilling to compromise.