‘Project Freedom’ risks escalation but was necessary, ex-US official says

‘Project Freedom’ risks escalation but was necessary, ex-US official says Former US assistant secretary of state Mark Kimmitt said “Project Freedom”, the plan by the United States to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, carries risks of escalation but was necessary. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said: “If we had not done Project Freedom, we would be in a kind of stasis right now where we would not have any increase in tension of any kind. But in this case, the United States has taken the risk to try to conduct these humanitarian escorts.” Kimmitt added that Iran’s response has been significant, saying, “They have declared a new security architecture in the Gulf, which includes claiming waters all the way down to Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah. That is unprecedented. It is almost as if the Iranians are goading us into restarting the fight.” He said the effort is genuine, adding, “I actually think this is a genuine effort by the United States to get these ships through, if for no other reason than to avoid international criticism." "The US is trying to convince allies who consider this war illegal that there are genuine humanitarian issues here and that there are rational reasons for them to join,” he added.

Former US assistant secretary of state Mark Kimmitt said “Project Freedom”, the plan by the United States to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, carries risks of escalation but was necessary.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said: “If we had not done Project Freedom, we would be in a kind of stasis right now where we would not have any increase in tension of any kind. But in this case, the United States has taken the risk to try to conduct these humanitarian escorts.”

Kimmitt added that Iran’s response has been significant, saying, “They have declared a new security architecture in the Gulf, which includes claiming waters all the way down to Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah. That is unprecedented. It is almost as if the Iranians are goading us into restarting the fight.”

He said the effort is genuine, adding, “I actually think this is a genuine effort by the United States to get these ships through, if for no other reason than to avoid international criticism."

"The US is trying to convince allies who consider this war illegal that there are genuine humanitarian issues here and that there are rational reasons for them to join,” he added.