Trump says he may restart "Project Freedom" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump was interviewed Monday evening (Israel time) by the American network "Fox News." Trump said he is considering ordering a restart of the operation to free ships stuck in the Persian Gulf, due to Iran’s naval blockade of the passage.

He said that if the operation restarts, "U.S. escorts for ships in the Strait of Hormuz would be only a small part of a broader military action." Trump added that he believes the regime in Iran "is going to fold" and therefore "we should keep negotiating until there is a deal." As a reminder, Trump announced the operation last Sunday, and two days later froze it after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia asked him to do so.

Regarding enriched uranium, Trump reiterated that he will not allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon. He noted in the interview that "the Iranian delegation to the negotiations said the U.S. would have to clear the 'nuclear dust' (uranium) from facilities destroyed in Iran, because the Iranians do not have the technology to do that. The nuclear dust is buried so deep that Iran cannot reach it." Trump told John Roberts of "Fox News" that he does not currently know how the U.S. would enter Iran, adding that it is a matter for further negotiation.

It should be noted that last night Trump rejected the Iranian proposal for an agreement. According to him, the regime’s response to the conditions set by the U.S., along with Iran’s new demands, "are not acceptable to him."