Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a temporary pause in ‘Project Freedom’, the American military initiative aimed at escorting stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington intensifies efforts to secure a final agreement with Iran.
Despite suspending the operation, Trump clarified that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports would continue while negotiations move forward.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that negotiations with Tehran had made significant headway toward ending the ongoing conflict.
“Great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement with representatives of Iran,” Trump wrote.
The US president said the decision to halt Project Freedom was taken after consultations with Pakistan and several other countries, citing both recent American military gains and diplomatic momentum with Tehran.
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump stated.
The announcement came just hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior military officials indicated that a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East remained intact, even though tensions in the region continue.
Speaking to reporters, Rubio said the initial phase of Washington’s military campaign against Iran had concluded.
“The operation is over. Epic Fury — as the president notified Congress — we’re done with that stage of it,” Rubio said.
However, Rubio stressed that long-term peace would depend on Iran agreeing to US demands regarding its nuclear programme and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping corridor that handles a major share of the world’s oil and gas trade.
Top American military officials also maintained that US forces remain prepared to resume combat operations if ordered by the president.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beijing for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi amid the escalating diplomatic activity surrounding the crisis.
Rubio said he hoped Beijing would pressure Tehran to ease restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that China has more to lose economically from disruptions in the waterway.
“It is in China’s interest that Iran stop closing the strait,” Rubio said, pointing to China’s dependence on energy shipments passing through the route.
When asked about international support for the US-led maritime effort, Rubio said many nations lacked the naval capability to participate effectively.
“The capabilities are the issue. A lot of countries would love to do something about it. But they don’t have a navy, right? Or they can’t get there in time,” he said.
Rubio added that Washington was effectively carrying the burden of keeping the route operational.
“The primary responsibility for this Project Freedom is on the United States because we’re the only country that can project power in that part of the world,” he said. “This is a favour to the world because it’s their ships that are stranded.”
Under Project Freedom, US military escorts operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz reportedly came under Iranian attack over the past 36 hours, further straining the already delicate ceasefire.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy warned it would respond forcefully if vessels deviated from approved maritime routes through the strait. Iranian negotiators also signalled that Tehran was prepared for further escalation if necessary.
Separately, the United Arab Emirates claimed it intercepted another wave of Iranian missiles and drones for the second consecutive day. Tehran denied the allegation.
“The armed forces … did not launch any missile or drone operation,” Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya command said in a statement.
