WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is considering relaunching his “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with Iran continue over a proposed agreement aimed at ending months of conflict.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Washington would continue to pressure Tehran until a deal is reached, adding that Iran would eventually “surrender.”
He also claimed Iran lacks the capability to extract its nuclear stockpile independently and said Iranian negotiators had acknowledged they needed US assistance to do so.
Trump indicated that if resumed, Project Freedom would expand beyond escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation was launched last week to help free ships stranded in the vital waterway before being suspended about 48 hours later to allow space for diplomatic efforts.
Also on Monday, Trump called Iran’s response to a US peace plan a “stupid proposal.” He told reporters: “The ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a one percent chance of living.’”
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who served as chief negotiator in previous talks with Washington, said shortly afterwards that his country was prepared “for any eventuality.”
He wrote on X: “Our armed forces are ready to respond and to teach a lesson for any aggression. A bad strategy and bad decisions always lead to bad results — the world already understands this.”
Oil prices rose sharply on Monday after Trump swiftly rejected Iran’s response on Sunday evening, fueling concerns that the 10-week conflict could continue and prolong disruptions to shipping through the strait.
Iranian state media said Tehran had demanded compensation for war damages while reaffirming its sovereignty over the strategic waterway.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency also reported that Tehran called on Washington to end its naval blockade, halt further attacks, lift sanctions and remove restrictions on Iranian oil exports.
Trump dismissed the Iranian proposal in a post on Truth Social, calling it “totally unacceptable” without elaborating further.
The US had proposed pausing the fighting before entering negotiations on more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
- ‘Restraint over’ -
The lack of a path to a resolution has focused concern on the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran is restricting maritime traffic and setting up a payment mechanism to charge tolls for crossing ships.
US officials have stressed it would be “unacceptable” for Tehran to control the international waterway.
As part of its blockade, the US Navy has at times fired on ships to disable them, or boarded and diverted them.
In a social media post on Sunday, the spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s national security commission warned Washington: “Our restraint is over as of today.”
Ebrahim Rezaei add: “Any attack on our vessels will trigger a strong and decisive Iranian response against American ships and bases.”
* With AFP
