{"text":[[{"start":11.3,"text":"The US will begin to “guide” stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz from Monday, President Donald Trump has announced."}],[{"start":18.700000000000003,"text":"He said on Sunday that “Project Freedom” will guide ships from various countries that are stuck in the strategic waterway, which has been blocked by Iran since the first days of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic."}],[{"start":32.800000000000004,"text":"“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 said in a post on Truth Social."}],[{"start":47.650000000000006,"text":"Trump added his representatives “are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all”."}],[{"start":57.10000000000001,"text":"US military support to Project Freedom will include guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and about 15,000 service members, US Central Command said. "}],[{"start":71.35000000000001,"text":"The announcement caused the price of oil to fall, with Brent crude dropping almost 2 per cent to just over $106 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate was below $100."}],[{"start":82.7,"text":"Iran confirmed on Sunday that it had received a US response to its latest peace proposal via Pakistan, which has mediated between the two countries. "}],[{"start":91.55,"text":"Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, told state television that the country’s 14-part proposal to the US “focused solely on ending the war” in the Middle East, including in Lebanon. "}],[{"start":104.7,"text":"“At this stage, we have no nuclear talks,” he said, referring to Iran’s nuclear programme, which the US has sought to curb."}],[{"start":113,"text":"Hostilities in the US-Israeli war against Iran, launched on February 28, have been on pause since a ceasefire came into effect on April 7."}],[{"start":122.75,"text":"On Saturday, Trump said that he was reviewing Iran’s peace proposal but would consider resuming military strikes if Tehran were to “misbehave”."}],[{"start":131.7,"text":"The US president told reporters he would like to “eliminate” Iran’s missile production capacity, as the regime’s remaining capabilities could be a start from which it could build up again."}],[{"start":141.75,"text":"Efforts to find a lasting diplomatic resolution to the conflict have stalled, with Trump and senior US officials seeking to place the blame on disagreement and confusion within Iran’s senior leadership. "}],[{"start":155.4,"text":"Iran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which one-fifth of global energy supplies pass, have caused shipping to come to a near standstill during the war."}],[{"start":169,"text":"An estimated 1,000 commercial vessels and about 20,000 seafarers have been stranded in the Gulf. Trump said on Sunday that many ships belonged to countries that had no involvement in the conflict, and that crews were “running low on food”."}],[{"start":183.8,"text":"Tehran’s chokehold on the strait has also caused a surge in global energy prices, raising economic fears around the world and stoking inflation. Traders have warned that the oil market is weeks away from a “tipping point” that will drive prices significantly higher."}],[{"start":201.70000000000002,"text":"Iran’s control of the strait has become a flashpoint in tensions with the US as it seeks assurances from Tehran that it will end its nuclear programme. "}],[{"start":210.70000000000002,"text":"The Trump administration wants to establish an international coalition to share information and co-ordinate diplomatic efforts in a bid to open up the strait, The Wall Street Journal reported last week. "}],[{"start":222.10000000000002,"text":"The UK and France are also seeking to lead a multinational mission to reopen the strait if a sustained ceasefire is secured. "}],[{"start":229.3,"text":"Trump has lambasted Nato allies, accusing them of not providing sufficient support in the war. "}],[{"start":235.3,"text":"On Friday, the Pentagon announced that it would withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany, after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said America was “being humiliated” by Tehran."}],[{"start":245.15,"text":"Additional reporting by Alice Hancock in London"}],[{"start":255.85000000000002,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1777861415_9818.mp3"}