Trump Vows US Escort for Trapped Ships in Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump is pushing forward with a plan codenamed "Project Freedom" to use the U.S. military to escort cargo ships out of the Strait of Hormuz where Iran has effectively closed shipping traffic and trapped vessels by threatening attacks.Trump announced the initiative, set to take place Monday morning Middle East time, via Truth Social amid the ongoing Iran war. The Trump administration is also weighing Iran's latest 14-point proposal to end hostilities even as the deputy parliament speaker said Iran "will not back down" from its grip on the strategic waterway. Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Sunday for additional comment and details. Why It MattersThe Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical chokepoints in global shipping, and Iran's blockade has shaken oil and natural gas markets since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on February 28. Fertilizer badly needed by farmers around the world also typically passes through the waterway. Iran has asserted control over the strait and has been charging tolls to ships not affiliated with the U.S. or Israel—a position that directly challenges the freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law. A U.S. naval mission to escort trapped ships