Iran war: Will tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz?

The US Central Command announced "Project Freedom," deploying over 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members to coordinate safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has collapsed to seven ships daily as of April 30 amid dual blockades by Iran and the United States since late February. The initiative does not include direct naval escort; shipping insurers have suspended war-risk coverage for the region, and the International Maritime Organization estimates approximately 1,000 vessels and 20,000 crew members are affected by the blockade.