Trump: US Will Help Free Ships Stranded in Strait of Hormuz Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. May 3, 2026 USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) conducts U.S. blockade operations in the Arabian Sea, April 16. (U.S. Navy photo) President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States would begin an effort to free up ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site, gave few details about the operation, including whether the U.S. Navy would be involved. He described the effort as a "humanitarian gesture" meant only to aid neutral countries that were not involved in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. "For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business," Trump wrote in the post. The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for additional information. BULK CARRIER REPORTS ATTACK A bulk carrier reported being attacked by multiple small craft while transiting north about 11 nautical miles west of Iran's Sirik on Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said, adding that all crew were safe and no environmental impact was reported. Later on Sunday, Iran's semi-official ‌Fars news agency said the ship was not seized and that it was stopped by the Iranian navy to check documents as part of supervisory procedures. ACTING “LIKE PIRATES” On Friday, Trump said the U.S. Navy was acting "like pirates" in carrying out Washington's naval blockade of Iranian ports during the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran. Trump made the comments while describing the seizure by U.S. forces of a ship a few days ago. "We took over the ship, we took over the cargo, we took over the oil. It's a very profitable business," Trump said in remarks on Friday evening.  "We're like pirates. We're sort of like pirates but we are not playing games." Some