U.S. Launches "Operation Freedom" to Evacuate Merchant Ships from Strait of Hormuz as Trump Declares War "Terminated"
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday the launch of "Operation Freedom", a U.S.-led mission to safely escort merchant ships currently trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil trade. The operation, set to begin Monday, targets vessels from countries not involved in the ongoing conflict with Iran, Trump stated in a post on Truth Social. The move comes as the White House simultaneously declared the six-month Iran war "terminated", a claim that sidesteps a May 1 congressional deadline requiring presidential approval for continued military action.
Trump framed the operation as a humanitarian effort, emphasizing that the ships—many with crews facing shortages of food and medical supplies—were unrelated to the conflict. "These are neutral, innocent vessels," he said. "We are guiding them out safely." The operation follows a U.S.-imposed naval blockade on Iranian ports since April 13, which Trump expanded to include all ships entering or leaving Iranian waters, a move that has disrupted global oil flows and sent Brent crude prices surging past $126 per barrel.
A Blockade Within a Blockade
The Strait of Hormuz remains de facto closed despite Iran’s April 7 announcement of a two-week ceasefire, now extended. Although Iran has allowed limited commercial traffic, the U.S. Blockade—enforced by three aircraft carrier strike groups (including the USS Gerald R. Ford, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush) and 10 destroyers—has effectively halted all shipping to and from Iranian ports. According to the U.S. Central Command (Centcom), American forces have intercepted 10 Iranian-bound vessels since the blockade began, though Tehran has accused Washington of escalating tensions by targeting neutral shipping.
Trump’s "Operation Freedom" appears designed to isolate Iran diplomatically while avoiding direct confrontation. A White House spokesperson confirmed that negotiations with Iran remain stalled, with Trump dismissing a recent Iranian peace proposal as "unacceptable" due to what he called "47 years of Iranian aggression." "They haven’t paid a high enough price," Trump said Saturday, leaving open the possibility of further military action despite his declaration of a ceasefire.
Congress Bypassed, Legal Questions Loom
The White House’s claim that hostilities have "terminated" comes as a legal maneuver to avoid the War Powers Resolution deadline, which requires presidential notification to Congress 60 days after initiating military action. Trump’s letters to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley (R-IA) argue that since "no exchange of fire" has occurred since April 7, the conflict no longer qualifies as an "active war." Legal scholars and Democratic lawmakers have rejected this interpretation, calling it a dangerous expansion of executive power. "This is a war," said Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), "and the president cannot unilaterally declare it over to avoid oversight."
Global Coalition in the Works
Behind the scenes, the Trump administration is pushing for an international maritime coalition—dubbed the "Maritime Freedom Construct"—to enforce the Strait’s reopening under U.S. Leadership. The plan, proposed by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), has drawn mixed reactions from allies. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have signaled support for a multinational force, but only if it operates under UN auspices, a demand the White House has rejected. Spain’s government, meanwhile, has conditioned participation on similar UN oversight, reflecting growing European skepticism of unilateral U.S. Actions in the region.
Humanitarian Crisis at Sea
With Operation Freedom set to begin Monday, the focus remains on the hundreds of merchant ships—including tankers, container vessels, and fishing boats—stranded in the Strait. Crews from South Korea, Japan, Greece, and India have reported critical shortages of food, water, and medical supplies, raising concerns about mass evacuations. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has warned of a "looming humanitarian disaster" if the blockade persists beyond two weeks.
Trump’s latest move underscores the dual-track strategy of military pressure and diplomatic isolation, but with no clear path to de-escalation. While the White House insists the operation is "purely humanitarian," regional analysts warn it could provoke Iranian retaliation, particularly if Tehran perceives it as a pretext for broader naval dominance in the Gulf.
No further updates on Iranian responses or coalition formation are available at this time.
