00:00To what remains of Iran's forces, if you attack American troops or innocent commercial shipping,
00:05you will face overwhelming and devastating American firepower. The president has been
00:11very clear about this. We prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded
00:16to defend our people, our ships, our aircraft, and this mission without hesitation. To Iran,
00:24let innocent ships pass freely. These international waters belong to all nations,
00:31not to Iran to tax, toll, or control. Well, as you know, President Trump has directed U.S. Central
00:38Command to restart the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz under the umbrella
00:43of Project Freedom. To be clear, this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury.
00:52Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope, and temporary in duration. With one
00:59mission, protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression. American forces won't
01:07need to enter Iranian waters or airspace. It's not necessary. We're not looking for a fight,
01:13but Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international
01:18waterway. Iran is the clear aggressor, harassing civilian vessels, threatening mariners from every
01:27nation indiscriminately, and weaponizing a critical choke point for its own financial benefit,
01:34at least trying to. For too long, Iran has been harassing ships, shooting at civilian tankers from
01:40all nations, and trying to impose a tolling system. Iran's plan, a form of international extortion,
01:49is unacceptable. That ends with Project Freedom. Two U.S. commercial ships, along with American
01:58destroyers, have already safely transited the Strait, showing the lane is clear. We know the Iranians
02:05are embarrassed by this fact. They said they control the Strait. They do not. So American ships
02:12led the way, commercial and military, shouldering the initial risk from the front, as Americans always
02:19do. And right now, hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit.
02:27CENTCOM, along with partner nations, is in active communication with hundreds of ships,
02:31ships, shipping companies, and insurers. All of these ships from all around the world want to get
02:38out of the Iranian trap that they have been stuck inside. As a direct gift from the United States to
02:45the world, we have established a powerful red, white, and blue dome over the Strait. American destroyers
02:53are on stations supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and surveillance aircraft,
02:58providing 24-7 overwatch for peaceful commercial vessels. Except Iran's, of course. Which is why our
03:07ironclad blockade remains in full effect as well. In fact, six ships tried to run the blockade out of
03:14Iranian ports as Project Freedom commenced, and they were all turned around. This is more than strategy,
03:22it's also humanitarian. By breaking Iran's illegal stranglehold, we're protecting the lives and
03:28livelihoods of sailors from dozens of countries, securing global energy routes, and preventing
03:34shortages that hit the world's poorest people the hardest. Once again, America is using its strength
03:38strength to lift up others. Iran is trying to subjugate the world.
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