The tankers were to sail through Hormuz with U.S. assistance. There is an army announcement
The daily's interlocutors revealed that the first such cruise had already been successful. A Greek supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of oil escaped through the strait while sailing along the Omani coast. The tanker has been stuck in the Middle East region since early March and is now heading to India with a shipment of raw materials.
The American military communicated its position
The US Central Command reacted to the publication of the American newspaper. “Project Freedom has not been resumed and US forces are not currently escorting merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” the command says in a message published on the X platform. The WSJ reports therefore describe activity that the US military denies.
Earlier this month, the Americans attempted to organize an escort of civilian units as part of the Project Freedom project. However, the Americans quickly suspended the initiative when Iranian forces began attacking passing ships. Saudi Arabia has further restricted Washington's use of its military bases and airspace.
Tension in the Strait of Hormuz
Traffic through the key waterway remains high risk. The previous night, Americans had exchanged fire with Iranian forces in the area. Data from maritime shipping monitoring companies indicate that a handful of civilian vessels are currently passing through the strait, and Iranian warships are circulating in the immediate vicinity.
Windward analysts observed that three large ships passed through Hormuz with their AIS, or Automatic Identification System, deactivated. At the same time, three boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were spotted nearby.
Washington's talks with Tehran
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump suggested that Washington was close to reaching a peace agreement with Tehran. One of the effects of such an agreement would be the restoration of free navigation through the strait. However, the parties have not finalized or signed any document.
Even the successful conclusion of the talks does not mean that the situation will immediately normalize, estimates the Wall Street Journal. It will take months to return to regular sea traffic. Before the outbreak of hostilities, approximately 130 ships passed through this corridor, which is important for the global energy sector, every day.
