US Central Command said reports that the Navy is escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported speaking with US military officials who said the Navy quietly resumed the operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this month, Trump launched Project Freedom, a military operation where the Navy would aid commercial ships attempting to transit the Strait without approval from Tehran.
The operation quickly collapsed after Saudi Arabia and other US allies pulled their support.
Just hours after The Wall Street Journal first reported the news, CENTCOM said there were no ongoing US operations to assist vessels through the Strait.
“CLAIM: Recent media reporting claims that the U.S. Navy has restarted escorting or assisting commercial vessels during transits through the Strait of Hormuz. FALSE,” CENTCOM posted on X. “TRUTH: Project Freedom has not resumed, and U.S. forces are not currently escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.”
🚫CLAIM: Recent media reporting claims that the U.S. Navy has restarted escorting or assisting commercial vessels during transits through the Strait of Hormuz. FALSE.
✅TRUTH: Project Freedom has not resumed, and U.S. forces are not currently escorting commercial vessels through… pic.twitter.com/JD9cY5FUNN
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 26, 2026
While CENTCOM denies the Wall Street Journal report is true, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US still plans to force Tehran to give up control over the Strait. “What’s happening there is unlawful; it’s illegal. It’s unsustainable for the world; it’s unacceptable,” Rubio told reporters Tuesday. “The straits need to be open, unimpeded, without tolls. And obviously, that needs to happen immediately as soon as anything’s agreed to.”
Iran took control of the Strait after the US and Israel started a war in February. Tehran said that it will continue to control and charge fees for transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
