WANA (May 05) – Iran’s Foreign Minister has described the United States’ so-called “Freedom Project” in the Strait of Hormuz as a “dead-end project,” saying that developments in the strategic waterway clearly demonstrate that a political crisis cannot be solved by military means.

 

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, speaking early Tuesday (May 5), one day after Donald Trump unveiled his initiative titled the “Freedom Project” concerning the Strait of Hormuz, said that recent developments in the area show that political crises do not have military solutions.

 

Referring to ongoing exchanges of messages between Iran and the United States—reportedly facilitated through Pakistan—he added that while negotiations are progressing thanks to Pakistan’s efforts, the United States must be careful not to be dragged once again into a quagmire by hostile actors. He said the same caution applies to the United Arab Emirates.

 

The Foreign Minister stressed: “The ‘Freedom Project’ is a dead-end project.”

On Sunday night (May 3), Donald Trump announced his new initiative called the “Freedom Project” in the Strait of Hormuz.

 

The U.S. President stated that from Monday (May 4), the United States would begin operations aimed at assisting commercial vessels that he claimed were “trapped” in the Persian Gulf.

 

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also commented on the initiative during his weekly press briefing on Monday (May 4), saying that the world does not accept U.S. claims of humanitarian intent, nor does it believe the United States can escape what he described as a self-made quagmire that has caused serious problems for the region, the United States itself, and the international community.

 

He further stated that the United States should have learned that it cannot use the language of threat and coercion against the Iranian people. He emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran sees itself as the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz and this vital waterway. According to him, recent developments over the past 40 to 50 days are a direct consequence of U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran.

 

Baghaei added that until early March, the Strait of Hormuz had been a safe and secure passage for maritime traffic. He said the international community should hold both the United States and Israel accountable for imposing insecurity on this waterway and for creating global disruptions, and should prevent further escalation of the situation by the United States. He also noted that shipowners and shipping companies are well aware that ensuring their safety requires coordination with the competent authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran.