US President Donald Trump considered that the talks with Iran on ending the war are going “very positively,” and revealed the launch of a new naval operation called “Project Freedom” to accompany ships stuck in the closed Strait of Hormuz. This comes at a time when Ibrahim Azizi, Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian Shura Council, warned that Tehran would consider any American intervention in the Strait a violation of the ceasefire.

Published on: 04/05/2026 - 04:32 Last updated: 04/05/2026 - 10:56

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US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that US officials are currently holding discussions that he describes as “very positive” with Iran about possible steps to end the war, revealing at the same time a plan starting Monday for US forces to escort ships stuck in the closed Strait of Hormuz.

According to Trump, the new naval operation, called “Project Freedom,” comes as a “humanitarian” step targeting hundreds of besieged ships suffering from a shortage of food and vital supplies.

He wrote on his “Truth Social” platform that the United States “will make every effort to safely remove their ships and crews from the strait,” explaining that the crews of these ships announced that they will not resume sailing before the area becomes safe for navigation.

The US President warned that any attempt to obstruct this "humanitarian operation" in directing ships "will have to be dealt with forcefully."

For its part, the US Central Command (Centcom) announced via the

“Our support for this defense mission is essential to regional security and the global economy, while continuing to maintain the maritime blockade,” Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stressed.

On the other hand, a senior Iranian official issued a strong warning, declaring that Tehran would consider any American move to intervene in the Strait of Hormuz a violation of the ceasefire.

Ibrahim Azizi, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Shura Council, announced on the X platform that “any American intervention in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire.”

As the Strait continues to be closed, Iran has succeeded in strangling a large portion of oil, gas, and fertilizer exports to global markets, while the United States imposes a counter-naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Data from the company "AXS Marines", which specializes in tracking ships, indicate that 913 commercial ships were present in the Gulf on April 29, including 270 oil tankers and about 50 gas tankers, while the British "UKMTO" organization for the safety of navigation estimated the number of sailors affected by the closure at about 20,000.

Trump explained that "many of these ships are suffering from a shortage of food and everything necessary to ensure that their crews remain healthy."

Last Friday, his administration had previously warned ships against paying any fees to the Tehran authorities for crossing the strait, stressing that such payments would expose them to sanctions.

Since the outbreak of the war that has claimed the lives of thousands of people, especially in Iran and Lebanon, Tehran has begun imposing transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Read also: The Trump administration announces the end of hostilities with Iran and faces congressional authorization

Stalemate in diplomatic efforts

On the political track, diplomatic efforts have suffered stagnation since the ceasefire entered into force on April 8, about 40 days after the US-Israeli air strikes on Iran and its response with strikes in countries of the region.

Attempts to revive negotiations faltered after a direct round held in Islamabad on April 11, without achieving a breakthrough, in light of the continuing fundamental differences, especially regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian nuclear file.

The American website "Axios" quoted two informed sources as saying that Tehran was given a period of one month to negotiate an agreement that includes reopening the strait, ending the US naval blockade, and reaching a permanent settlement that ends the war in Iran and Lebanon.

A Revolutionary Guard intelligence statement, broadcast on state television, said that “the margin of maneuver available to the United States in decision-making has diminished,” considering that Trump must “choose between an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

It seems that the nuclear file does not occupy a central position in the current Iranian proposal, even though it represents a top priority for the United States and Israel, which accuse Tehran of seeking to possess a nuclear weapon.

In parallel, Israel continues to launch special attacks on southern Lebanon, accompanied by widespread demolition and bombing operations in border towns, after announcing the establishment of a “yellow line” that isolates dozens of villages from the rest of Lebanese territory.

On Sunday, the Lebanese Ministry of Health concluded by announcing that at least one person was killed and four paramedics were injured in Israeli raids that targeted the south of the country.

France 24/AFP

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