Iran live updates: Trump's 'Project Freedom' to begin Monday amid attacks in strait

The Iranian ship that was seized by the U.S. after it tried to run the U.S. blockade has been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran, along with its crew, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command told ABC News.

"Today, U.S. forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation," Captain Tim Hawkins said. "Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week."

Iran state media identified the six as family members of some of the crew.

"Custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership after the ship was intercepted and seized when attempting to violate the U.S. naval blockade against Iran last month," Hawkins said.

When the crew of the Touska ignored six hours’ worth of warnings from U.S. ships on April 19, a destroyer fired several rounds at the container ship's engine room, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Pentagon news conference on April 24. The ship was later boarded by U.S. Marines, who seized the ship.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he's ordered U.S. personnel to safely guide ships and crews from countries that are not involved with the Iran war out of Strait of Hormuz, which is currently subject to a naval blockade.

This "humanitarian gesture," which Trump called "Project Freedom," will begin Monday morning "Middle East time," he wrote.

"The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong -- They are victims of circumstance," the president wrote. "This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran."

Trump claimed that his "representatives" were having "very positive discussions" with Iranian leadership, despite the fact that he said earlier Sunday that he reviewed their most recent peace proposal and that it is "not acceptable."

He said these discussions "could lead to something very positive for all" but warned that if Iran interferes with these safety efforts, they will "have to be dealt with forcefully."

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement via the state-run Press TV claiming that the U.S.' room for decision-making "has narrowed" amid the ongoing negotiating stalemate.

In its statement, the IRGC claimed that Tehran has set the Pentagon a deadline to lift its blockade of Iranian ports. It also claimed that the global tone of conversation on the conflict has shifted "against Washington," citing critical statements on the war from China, Russia and Europe.

President Donald Trump, the IRGC said, must choose between "an impossible military operation or a bad deal" with Iran.

-ABC News' Dragana Jovanovic