WASHINGTON D.C. – May 6, 2026 – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clarified that the newly launched “Project Freedom” is a strictly defensive military operation designed to protect commercial shipping and rescue thousands of stranded civilian sailors in the Strait of Hormuz.
In remarks delivered at the White House and shared by the State Department on X, Rubio stressed that American forces will not initiate hostilities. “Project Freedom is a DEFENSIVE operation. There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first. If they are attacking us, we respond to it,” he said. “This is not an offensive operation.”
The operation follows the successful conclusion of “Operation Epic Fury,” the U.S.-led offensive campaign against Iranian military targets that ran from late February to early May 2026. With Iran’s ability to project power significantly degraded, the focus has shifted to maritime security: guiding trapped commercial vessels out of the Persian Gulf, clearing mines, and countering Tehran’s blockade.
Nearly 23,000 civilians from 87 countries remain stranded aboard more than 1,500 merchant ships, a situation Rubio described as leaving them “trapped inside of the Gulf and left for dead by this Iranian regime.” Iranian attacks on shipping, mining of the waterway, and the ongoing blockade have disrupted approximately 20% of global oil transit, driving up energy prices worldwide.
Project Freedom involves U.S. naval assets, including guided-missile destroyers, aircraft, and unmanned systems, along with roughly 15,000 service members. The mission emphasizes humanitarian relief and the restoration of freedom of navigation rather than regime change or further offensive strikes.
The announcement comes alongside diplomatic efforts. The United States has drafted a UN Security Council resolution urging Iran to immediately halt attacks on commercial vessels, remove mines, and allow safe passage for humanitarian aid. At the same time, maximum economic pressure through sanctions continues to squeeze Iran’s economy, contributing to record inflation and a collapsing currency.
In a related development late on May 5, President Donald Trump announced a temporary pause in Project Freedom to explore progress in ongoing peace negotiations with Iran, while the U.S. naval blockade remains firmly in place.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for energy supplies. Analysts say Project Freedom represents a deliberate de-escalation from major combat operations to a limited, defensive posture focused on protecting international commerce and stranded civilians.
Life News Agency will continue to monitor developments in the region.
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