To and fro over the strait – how Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ played outpublished at 12:26 BST
12:26 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Claim, counterclaim and denial ensued after President Donald Trump announced “Project Freedom”. Now it’s been paused, let’s revisit how two days of confusion played out.
Trump announces: The US would begin a military operation to “guide” trapped ships out of the Gulf, he writes in a Truth Social post late on Sunday. More than 15,000 service members and 100 aircraft will support the plan, US Central Command (Centcom) says.
Iran responds: In a statement on Monday, Tehran’s central command says that Iran has full control of the strait, and threatens to target “any foreign armed force” that tries to approach or enter.
US military claims success: Centcom says later on Monday that two US-flagged merchant vessels “successfully transited” through the strait.
Pushback from Iran: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) calls the report about the two US vessels “outright lies”. It also separately says it fired against “hostile enemy destroyers” in the strait after the Americans “disregarded” warnings. Centcom denies this.
Trump says the US sinks several Iranian ‘small boats’: Centcom later on Monday adds that these were destroyed with helicopters. Iran doesn’t comment.
One ship confirms exit: Shipping company Maersk confirms to the BBC that one of its vessels exited the Gulf that day, accompanied by the US military, late on Monday evening.
Iran warns US: Also late on Monday evening, Iran’s foreign minister says the US “should be wary” of being dragged “back into a quagmire”.
US claims shipping lane ‘is clear’: “No, the ceasefire is not over”, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth tells a Tuesday press conference. The “lane is clear” in the strait, he says, and Iran is “embarrassed” by the passage of two ships.
Trump announces ‘Project Freedom’ pause: He says the operation is on hold following “great progress” in talks with Iran, in a Truth Social post on Tuesday evening. His comments follow an announcement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Operation Epic Fury – the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran – is over.