1 600 ships stuck in the Gulf of Hormuz. Only two ships were removed from the strait during Trumpʼs operation

1 600 ships are stranded in the Gulf of Hormuz after the US President Donald Trump suspended Operation “Freedom”.

CNN writes about this.

In early May, the United States announced an operation to clear neutral ships from the Strait of Hormuz that had been blocked by Iran. Only two ships passed through the Strait during Trumpʼs two-day operation. It was halted because Washingtonʼs allies in the region restricted American military access to their bases and airspace.

After the US president suspended the operation, the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization said it would be able to ensure safe passage through the strait. The organization is also ready to provide maritime services, technical and medical assistance to commercial vessels.

War in the Middle East and negotiations between Iran and the US

On the morning of February 28, the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. These attacks killed Iranʼs Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and almost the entire military leadership of the country — about 40 key high-ranking officials.

Iran, in response to the US and Israeli attacks, began shelling Arab countries and Israel. The war also halted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea corridor between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. It was through it that almost a fifth of the worldʼs oil exports passed — tens of millions of barrels a day.

On April 8, the parties agreed to a two-week ceasefire. On April 13, the United States began a naval blockade of Iranian ports, demanding the complete unblocking of the Strait of Hormuz for all ships.

On April 17, Lebanon and Israel agreed to a ceasefire, after which Iran unblocked the Strait of Hormuz. However, on April 18, Iran reported that it was again blocking the Strait of Hormuz due to the US naval blockade. On the same day, Iran fired on several ships attempting to pass through the strait.

On April 19, Donald Trump reported that his representatives would go to Pakistan for talks. But Iran refused to send its delegation. The Foreign Ministry noted that the US had violated the ceasefire, and Iran "cannot forget the US attacks on it during previous talks".

On April 21, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had extended the truce with Iran until the Iranians submitted their proposals and concluded discussions. And on May 1, Axios wrote, citing a letter from Trump to House Speaker Mike Johnson, that Trump considered the war over.

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