US President Donald Trump indicated that his administration could revive the suspended maritime security initiative, Project Freedom, aimed at ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions in the Gulf.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump suggested that if a deal with Iran is not reached, the initiative would be expanded under a new iteration he called “Project Freedom plus.”

“We’ll go a different route if everything doesn’t get signed up, buttoned up,” Trump said.

“Project Freedom is good, but we have other ways of doing it also. We may go back to Project Freedom if things don’t happen, but it’d be Project Freedom plus, meaning Project Freedom plus other things.”

The original Project Freedom was designed to support the safe navigation of commercial shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil shipments.

The proposed expansion, Trump suggested, would include additional measures, though he did not specify what they would entail.