• Trump announces 'Project Freedom' to assist ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.
• The operation is described as a humanitarian gesture addressing supply issues for crews.
• Any interference with the initiative will be met with force, warns Trump.
• 15,000 US personnel will participate in the operation set to start Monday.
• Iran has proposed negotiations in response to US actions regarding the conflict.

US President Donald Trump has launched an initiative called “Project Freedom”, aimed at assisting commercial vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen increased tensions due to Iranian actions. The operation will begin on Monday and is described by Trump as necessary for humanitarian reasons, given that many of the sailors aboard the affected vessels are "running low on food and everything else necessary for large-scale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner," according to Al Jazeera and India Times.

Trump indicated that the United States would help guide these vessels safely out of the restricted waterways, stating, "For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these countries that we will guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways," according to a post on social media reported by BBC and India Times. He emphasized that these ships belong to countries uninvolved in the current conflicts, noting that intervention is crucial for those who are "victims of circumstance."

In light of the tensions, Trump warned that any interference with the operation would be "dealt with forcefully" and declared that the US would not allow disruptions to this humanitarian effort. "That interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully," he said, as quoted by BBC and Al Jazeera.

The initiative will involve 15,000 US personnel and various naval assets, including guided-missile destroyers and aircraft, highlighting the scale of the operation, according to reports from BBC and India Times. Additionally, Trump indicated that ongoing discussions with Iranian representatives might lead to positive outcomes, suggesting a complex diplomatic environment surrounding this military initiative.