President Donald Trump says Iran has “taken some shots at unrelated nations” involved in ship movement under Project Freedom, including a South Korean cargo ship, and has urged Seoul to join the U.S.-led maritime security mission.
In a statement, Trump claimed that Iranian forces have targeted vessels from countries not originally part of the confrontation, singling out an attack on a South Korean cargo ship as evidence that Tehran is widening the scope of its actions. He framed the incident as a reason for South Korea to become an active participant in Project Freedom, the U.S.-organized effort to safeguard commercial shipping in the region.
Trump also said American forces have “shot down” seven of Iran’s small military craft, which he described as so‑called “fast boats,” adding that he believes such vessels are among the few remaining tools at Iran’s disposal in the maritime standoff. He stressed that, aside from the South Korean ship, there has been “no damage” to other vessels transiting the Strait, portraying the U.S. response as effective in keeping sea lanes open.
The president announced that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine will brief the public and the media at a news conference scheduled for tomorrow morning. The briefing is expected to provide further details on recent encounters at sea, the condition of the damaged South Korean vessel, and the next steps in the U.S. strategy under Project Freedom.
