(Bloomberg) — A month after President Donald Trump introduced a plan to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz and then dropped it, the US military is exploring quieter methods to protect vessels in this c...
(Bloomberg) — A month after President Donald Trump introduced a plan to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz and then dropped it, the US military is exploring quieter methods to protect vessels in this crucial area.
Instead of making a direct confrontation with Iran, the US is discreetly working with shipping companies on alternative strategies. Information from US Central Command, shipping data, and insiders indicates that vessels are turning off their transponders and staying close to the Omani coast in the southern part of the strait to avoid Iranian mines, with military support available if required.
The latest development came on Tuesday night amid rising tensions between the US and Iran. Central Command reported that its forces shot down Iranian drones targeting "civilian mariners who were lawfully passing through regional waters."
Additionally, US forces executed "self-defense strikes" against an Iranian military ground control station.
This new approach represents a shift from Trump's earlier initiative, known as Project Freedom, which he launched in early May. That plan, announced via social media and elaborated in a formal White House briefing, led to Iranian attacks and threatened a fragile ceasefire. Trump later decided to abandon the idea after regional allies urged him to pull back.
The current US strategy doesn't have an official name, and the administration has provided little public explanation. However, it has been accompanied by other indications that the US is collaborating with shipping companies in unspecified ways.
Centcom, responsible for US military operations in and around the Persian Gulf, has adjusted its communication to keep options open. In a recent social media post, Centcom refuted as “FALSE” claims that the US Navy had resumed escorting or assisting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Following new evidence that multiple vessels successfully navigated the area, the command updated its messaging. “While US forces are not escorting, we are continuing to coordinate with commercial ships looking to transit the Strait of Hormuz safely,” stated US Central Command’s public affairs director, Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, on Monday.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hinted at US efforts over the weekend, expressing optimism that traffic would return to normal due to “what we’re able to do, and are doing — known or unknown — in the strait.”
Two shipping companies have reported staying in contact with the US military, which provided guidance on navigating the waterway, as reported by Bloomberg News. When one ship encountered suspected Iranian fast boats on a recent journey, helicopters appeared to drive them away, according to a source familiar with the incident.
“If commercial ships stay close to the coast opposite Iran and turn off their AIS transponders, Iranian forces would need to rely on radar or spotters to detect movement and target drone or missile strikes,” explained Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. “The US Navy could detect these attempts and respond to Iranian units.”
While some shipping companies are starting to feel more positive about increasing traffic, ship-tracking data from Bloomberg shows that movement through the strait remains limited. On Tuesday morning, only two inbound commercial ships were observed, following two outbound vessels on Monday.
Steve Wills, a naval expert at the Navy League’s Center for Maritime Strategy, stated that the US military can provide protection for vessels through Navy ships equipped with a modern AEGIS command-and-control system, which integrates air and missile defense and utilizes early warning E-2D aircraft for a comprehensive view of the area. “This allows for a kind of indirect but effective coverage of the strait,” Wills noted.