Trump says US could revive ‘Project Freedom’ if Iran talks collapse

Diyar Kurda

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington could revive “Project Freedom” - a major maritime initiative aimed at securing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz - if ongoing talks with Iran fail, though he stressed the United States is currently pursuing other options.

Speaking to Rudaw before departing the White House for Sterling on Friday evening, Trump said he expected a response from Tehran later that night regarding the latest US proposal.

“I’m getting a letter supposedly tonight. So, we’ll see how that goes,” Trump said when asked whether Iran had responded.

“We’ll see what happens. Look, they have no military, they have not a lot left,” he added.

Trump’s remarks come amid renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran continues reviewing a US-backed proposal intended to ease hostilities between the two longtime adversaries.

Asked whether “Project Freedom” could be reinstated, Trump said the operation remained an option if negotiations fail.

“I don’t think so, we might do it, but I don’t think so,” Trump said. “We’ll go a different route if everything doesn’t get signed up, buttoned up.”

The US president described the initiative favorably, adding that Pakistan had urged Washington not to move forward with it.

“Project Freedom is good. We were asked not to do that by Pakistan,” Trump said. “We may go back to Project Freedom if things don’t happen, but it would be Project Freedom plus other things.”

The United States and Israel launched a large-scale aerial campaign against Iran on February 28, striking more than 17,000 targets during six weeks of fighting before a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire took effect on April 8. A first round of negotiations concluded on April 11 without a final agreement, and no date has been announced for a second round.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday accused Washington of undermining diplomacy through military action.

“Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure. Is it a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire?” Araghchi wrote on X. “Whatever the causes, the outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure.”

Earlier this week, Iran’s military accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by targeting two vessels near the Strait of Hormuz and striking civilian areas in southern Hormozgan province.

The accusation came after US Central Command said its forces had intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” near Hormuz, while Trump warned that a stronger response would follow if a deal was not reached “fast!”