00:00Well, as you know, President Trump has directed U.S. Central Command to restart the free flow of
00:06commerce through the Strait of Hormuz under the umbrella of Project Freedom. To be clear,
00:12this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. Project Freedom is defensive
00:19in nature, focused in scope, and temporary in duration, with one mission, protecting innocent
00:26commercial shipping from Iranian aggression. American forces won't need to enter Iranian waters
00:33or airspace. It's not necessary. We're not looking for a fight, but Iran also cannot be allowed to
00:40block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway. Iran is the clear
00:46aggressor, harassing civilian vessels, threatening mariners from every nation indiscriminately,
00:54and weaponizing a critical choke point for its own financial benefit, or at least trying to.
01:00For too long, Iran has been harassing ships, shooting at civilian tankers from all nations,
01:06and trying to impose a tolling system. Iran's plan, a form of international extortion, is unacceptable.
01:17That ends with Project Freedom. Two U.S. commercial ships, along with American destroyers,
01:24have already safely transited the strait, showing the lane is clear. We know the Iranians are
01:30embarrassed by this fact. They said they control the strait. They do not. So American ships led the
01:38way, commercial and military, shouldering the initial risk from the front, as Americans always do.
01:44And right now, hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit.
01:51CENTCOM, along with partner nations, is in active communication with hundreds of ships,
01:56shipping companies, and insurers. All of these ships from all around the world want to get out of
02:03the Iranian trap that they have been stuck inside. As a direct gift from the United States to the world,
02:10we have established a powerful red, white, and blue dome over the strait. American destroyers are on
02:18stations supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and surveillance aircraft,
02:22providing 24-7 overwatch for peaceful commercial vessels. Except Iran's, of course. Which is why our
02:32ironclad blockade remains in full effect as well. In fact, six ships tried to run the blockade out of
02:39Iranian ports as Project Freedom commenced, and they were all turned around. This is more than
02:46strategy. It's also humanitarian. By breaking Iran's illegal stranglehold, we're protecting the lives
02:52and livelihoods of sailors from dozens of countries, securing global energy routes, and preventing
02:58shortages that hit the world's poorest people the hardest. Once again, America is using its strength
03:03strength to lift up others. Iran is trying to subjugate the world.
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