"The Strait of Hormuz is a choke point in global shipping. It's just 20 miles wide at its narrowest point. And it was open to well over a hundred ships a day to transit through before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. But, you know, since then, Iran has controlled access, laying mines and firing at ships trying to break that impasse. And so what that's done is it's taken some 13 million barrels of oil a day off the market."
"Project Freedom was Trump's attempt at getting that strait open. And on Monday, the U.S. military helped guide two U.S.-flagged commercial vessels through, but it took force. The military says several Iranian speedboats were sunk. And Iran responded by firing missiles and drones at the Navy."
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical 20-mile-wide shipping chokepoint, has been controlled by Iran since the U.S.-Israeli war began, disrupting global commerce. Iran's blockade has removed 13 million barrels of oil daily from markets and affected exports of liquefied natural gas, fertilizers, aluminum, and helium. U.S. gasoline prices exceeded $4.50 per gallon, and Trump's approval ratings declined. Project Freedom was launched Monday to forcibly open the strait, with U.S. military vessels guiding commercial ships through and reportedly sinking Iranian speedboats. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks. Trump halted the operation after less than 48 hours, citing diplomatic progress, though the blockade remains in effect.
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