U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Kin said Tuesday that the U.S. has launched Project Freedom to ensure safe ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz [1, 2].

This move signals a heightened military posture in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. Any significant disruption to the strait threatens global energy prices and the stability of international trade routes.

Kin said that Iran is utilizing the global supply chain as a weapon [1, 2]. According to the chairman, Iran is seeking to cut off traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to damage the global economy [1, 2].

President Donald Trump ordered the initiation of Project Freedom to counter these efforts [1, 2]. The project aims to guarantee that vessels can transit the waterway without interference, protecting the flow of goods, and energy to international markets [1, 2].

Kin said it is time for those with interests in the Strait of Hormuz to contribute to these security efforts [1, 2]. The U.S. intends to maintain international navigation and ensure that supply chains remain stable despite Iranian efforts to disrupt shipping [1, 2].

The operation comes as the U.S. seeks to prevent the weaponization of trade routes, a strategy the administration said is being employed by Tehran to exert pressure on the global economy [1, 2].

“Iran is using the global supply chain as a weapon.”

The launch of Project Freedom indicates a shift toward more proactive maritime security in the Persian Gulf. By framing the Strait of Hormuz as a target for 'weaponized' supply chain disruption, the U.S. is positioning the security of the waterway as a global economic necessity rather than a bilateral dispute, potentially inviting other international trading partners to provide naval support.