Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman.
President Trump says starting today, the U.S.
Will guide ships that are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon says the U.S. Military will support efforts to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping.
NPR's Tamara Keith reports this comes as the war with Iran is at a stalemate.
Global oil prices are up.
The price of regular gasoline in the U.S.
Is averaging well over $4 a gallon.
And the critical Strait of Hormuz has been functionally closed for weeks.
Now President Trump says that for humanitarian reasons, to get ships and crews safely out of the area, the U.S.
Will guide them through the strait.
He's calling it Project Freedom.
Quote, if in any way this humanitarian process is interfered with,
that interference will unfortunately have to be dealt with forcefully.
Tamara Keith.
NPR News It 's not clear if any ships currently stuck in the Strait of Hormuz
have accepted President Trump's offer of guidance.
Iranian state media have published remarks from an Iranian military officer.
He says that ships passing through the strait must coordinate with Iran.
He also warns that any foreign military force that tries to enter the strait will be targeted.