00:00The map shows the examples and samples of Iranian attacks against commercial vessels in the strait as well as the
00:07Gophel.
00:39Well, as you know, President Trump has directed U.S. Central Command to restart the free flow of commerce through
00:46the Strait of Hormuz under the umbrella of Project Freedom.
00:50To be clear, this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury.
00:56Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope, and temporary in duration, with one mission, protecting innocent commercial shipping
01:06from Iranian aggression.
01:09American forces won't need to enter Iranian waters or airspace. It's not necessary.
01:14We're not looking for a fight, but Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from
01:21an international waterway.
01:23Iran is the clear aggressor, harassing civilian vessels, threatening mariners from every nation indiscriminately, and weaponizing a critical choke point
01:36for its own financial benefit, or at least trying to.
01:39For too long, Iran has been harassing ships, shooting at civilian tankers from all nations, and trying to impose a
01:47tolling system.
01:49Iran's plan, a form of international extortion, is unacceptable.
01:54That ends with Project Freedom.
01:56As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white, and blue
02:02dome over the strait.
02:05American destroyers are on stations supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and surveillance aircraft,
02:11providing 24-7 overwatch for peaceful commercial vessels, except Iran's, of course,
02:20which is why our ironclad blockade remains in full effect as well.
02:24As a result of Iran's indiscriminate attacks across the region,
02:28there are currently 22,500 mariners embarked on more than 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Arabian Gulf, unable
02:41to transit.
02:42In addition to shipping, Iran has continued to deliberately attack its neighbors.
02:48Just yesterday, Iran attacked Oman once and the UAE three times,
02:53including an attack on Fujairah oil terminal, which was successfully defeated.
02:58They also launched cruise missiles, drones, small boats at U.S. forces, defending commercial shipping in the straits.
03:05And United States Navy MH-60 helicopters and Army AH-64 Apache helicopters successfully defeated those threats.
03:14Thus far, today is quieter.
03:17Are there still concerns about mines in the strait?
03:19And can you kind of clarify these reports of kamikaze dolphins that we've heard about?
03:25I haven't heard the kamikaze dolphin thing.
03:28It's like sharks with laser beams, right?
03:31Any follow-on effort, if there are mines identified, would be something that some of our units could undertake or
03:37the world could undertake.
03:38But right now, we know we have a lane of safe passage that commercial shipping can flow through.
03:52You
Comments