The real objective of “Project Freedom,” announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on May 3 as an operation to free commercial vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf, seems to be to separate the closure of the Strait of Hormuz from the unprovoked war of aggression that Trump started against Iran on Feb. 28, and to shift the blame for the closure entirely onto Iran.
Self-styled “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth was unambiguous about that this morning during a Pentagon press conference, held with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Cain. Hegseth said, “To be clear, this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with one mission, protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression.” From there Hegseth accused Iran of holding the entire world hostage to its own aims, and of causing the economic shocks reverberating around the world.
Therefore, “As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white and blue dome over the Strait,” Hegseth went on. “American destroyers are on stations supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones and surveillance aircraft, providing 24/7 overwatch for peaceful, commercial vessels.”
