CENTCOM: Ships Trapped in Persian Gulf Affect 87 Countries

Washington (ANTARA) - Ships trapped in the Persian Gulf due to navigation restrictions imposed by the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz represent 87 countries, said CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper on Monday. These ships are neutral parties not involved in the conflict, Cooper stated, referring to a statement by US President Donald Trump as shared in a post on the US Central Command’s X account. He added that US forces have communicated with dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage the resumption of normal traffic flow through the strategic waterway. The previous day, Trump announced “Project Freedom” to help ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz that wish to leave the area amid rising tensions. CENTCOM stated that military support for the initiative includes guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, and multi-domain unmanned platforms. Iranian media outlet IRIB reported that the Iranian military prevented a US ship from passing by attacking a warship with two missiles. This claim was subsequently denied by CENTCOM. According to CENTCOM, no US ships were hit, and operations in the area continue as planned to maintain the security of international shipping lanes. Trump had previously warned Iran that it would face severe consequences if it attempted to target US ships around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy trade. Tensions in the region are raising concerns about disruptions to world oil supplies, while diplomatic and military efforts continue to ensure freedom of navigation is maintained.