Negotiations between the United States and Iran have been deadlocked since a ceasefire came into effect on April 8, with Iran's stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz the main point of contention. On May 3, US President Donald Trump announced that a new maritime operation dubbed 'Project Freedom' will escort ships stuck in the blocked waterway.

Thus, whereas nine ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in both directions on Saturday, on Sunday, according to Bloomberg, only two Iranian commercial vessels did this

US to launch new mission dubbed ‘Project Freedom’ as Tehran signals interference would be seen as a ceasefire violation.