Has Trump reignited war with Iran? – The Latest
episodePreviously titled “Has Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ reignited war with Iran? – The Latest” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 2, 2026
Transcript
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is The Guardian.
Sometimes he affects not to really care about the Strait of Hormuz and other times he seems almost desperate to get this resolved.
And so we did a little detour and it's working out very nicely. They have no navy, they have no air force, they have no anti-aircraft equipment.
We are seeing a Trump that's less worried about concerns back home because, after all, he's not going to stand for election himself, and someone who is more concerned about the legacy he leaves on the world stage. He's less comparing himself to Washington and Lincoln these days and more to Alexander the Great, Napoleon, which is worrying for all of us.
What is Project Freedom and why was it launched?
Donald Trump has launched a new operation, Project Freedom, to try and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But could it cause a major re-escalation of the war with Iran and bring an end to the ceasefire? From The Guardian's Today In Focus, this is The Latest with me, Lucy Hoth. Well, joining me down the line from Jerusalem is Julian Borger, our senior international correspondent. Thanks for dialing in, Julian. It's lovely to have you on the show.
How does the Strait of Hormuz impact global oil trade?
So it's now nearly a month since the ceasefire was agreed between the US and Israel and Iran. And in sort of military terms, things felt like they were settling down. But there has been this continued tension over the Strait of Hormuz, this vital crossing where one fifth of the world's oil passes through that has caused such damage to the world's economy with a blockade imposed by either side there. There has been a re-escalation with the US sending in the last 24 hours ships to the Strait. Iran is now saying things haven't even begun. Are we looking at a situation where things could really kick off again in military terms?
Yeah, absolutely. Because what this new initiative does is it brings U.S.
What are the potential military implications of Project Freedom?
warships close to Iranian ships, small boats, drones. And so as they're in proximity to each other in a very tight waterway, then the chance of something blowing up are much greater than they were yesterday.
OK, well, that sounds very alarming. And this is a new initiative announced by the US yesterday by Donald Trump called Project Freedom. What does this actually entail?
Well, what they're offering is an alternative route out of the Strait of Hormuz. that would go well south of the established shipping channels and kind of hug the coast and go within Omani territorial waters. And what they're saying to the ships that are trapped in the Gulf is, if you follow this route, we'll be watching you. We can protect you from afar, but we have lots of things in the air.
How has Iran responded to increased US military presence?
We have helicopters and planes and anti-drone capabilities. And we will also help guide you through what is a very perilous and narrow channel to get out of the strait and to escape the Gulf. The US bet is that the shipping companies and also the crews on these ships are desperate enough to take that risk under US protection.
Yeah, because there's a real human aspect to this story as well, isn't there, Julian, in the sense that there are at least 800 ships currently trapped in the Strait of Hormuz and have been stuck for nearly three months now with crews of around 20,000 people. Do you think this will stand any chance of succeeding?
Yeah, I think that there is a chance. I think what shipping owners are doing at the moment is watching what happens to the first few ships. Two have been confirmed so far, seeing what happens and see if other ships get out. And it's possible that others will decide they were going to take the chance just to get their ships and to get their crews out. But at the moment, on the whole, the shipping owners, from what we hear, and certainly the insurance companies are very cautious about this.
What challenges do shipping companies face in the Strait of Hormuz?
What they want and what they're holding out for is an agreement between Iran and the US that they will both lift their blockades and let all the shipping out and open the strait again. That's what Iran has put on the table, the kind of mutual lifting, but without any discussion about the other issues like nuclear and security.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:49
2
What is Project Freedom and why was it launched?
0:49–1:15
3
How does the Strait of Hormuz impact global oil trade?
1:15–2:01
4
What are the potential military implications of Project Freedom?
2:01–2:52
5
How has Iran responded to increased US military presence?
2:52–4:00
6
What challenges do shipping companies face in the Strait of Hormuz?
4:00–4:59
7
Why is a US-Iran agreement crucial for regional stability?
4:59–5:59
8
What role does Israel play in the current geopolitical landscape?
5:59–9:46