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.”
US President Donald Trump told Rudaw's @diyarkurda he is uncertain about Iran's response to Washington’s proposal, saying Tehran has been significantly weakened militarily.
“We’ll see what happens. They have no military. They don’t have a lot left. We’ll see what happens." pic.twitter.com/oA0KagM1bN