_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
The Iran war just underwent a rebrand. Yesterday, from the White House podium, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Operation Epic Fury was over. This comes as the deadline approaches for Congress to vote to continue operations.
Now, the Trump administration launched “Project Freedom,” described as a military-backed effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of Iranian harassment of commercial shipping.
President Donald Trump announced the mission over the weekend, framing it as a temporary operation to help stranded ships safely transit one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints. The president, however, has already paused the mission for “a short period” as the US and Iran attempt to finalize a ceasefire.
_THE FACTS_
President Trump announced Project Freedom on Sunday, framing it as a humanitarian effort to help ships escape the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday.
Control over the Strait of Hormuz remains contested; the US claims it maintains air and naval superiority, but Iran is using sea mines and missiles to threaten ships crossing without its permission.
US Central Command confirmed two US-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the strait under military protection, though Iran denies any commercial ships passed through.
Iran launched cruise missiles, drones, and small boats at American Navy and commercial vessels during the operation.
American forces destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted multiple Iranian attacks without sustaining damage to US ships.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the ceasefire is "not over" and described the clashes as expected "churn" from the operation.
Six ships attempted to bypass the US blockade of Iranian ports during the operation and were all turned around.
The operation involves guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft, unmanned systems, and approximately 15,000 service members providing a "defensive umbrella" across the strait.
The United Arab Emirates engaged 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles, and 4 drones fired from Iran, sparking a fire at an oil facility and injuring three Indian nationals.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine said Iran has attacked US forces more than 10 times since the ceasefire but remains "below the threshold of restarting major combat operations."
_OUR TAKE_
As the US and Iran seek a ceasefire, the conflict's immediate goal appears to be shifting in real time. All talk is on the Strait of Hormuz. Not its funding of terrorism, not nuclear enrichment, and certainly not regime change. Iran is in no position to relinquish control of the waterway, as it is the Islamic Republic’s main point of leverage against the West. All it expects to do is wait for the pain of high oil prices to force America’s retreat.
The United States, on the other hand, cannot leave without reopening the Strait. While both nations are undergoing economic pain, the Iranian regime is in a war for survival, while Americans have the luxury of watching the war on television, only pained by higher prices at the pump.
Even after months of airstrikes and ongoing negotiations, Iran’s ability to withstand America’s and Israel’s military might has given it an unexpected edge at the negotiating table.
