US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a temporary pause on “Project Freedom” as Washington seeks to secure a broader agreement with Iran aimed at easing the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Trump said the decision was influenced by requests from Pakistan and several other countries, along with what he described as progress in negotiations with Iranian representatives.
Project Freedom, launched just a day earlier, was a US military-backed initiative designed to escort stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and help maintain global trade flows amid rising regional tensions.
Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump said: “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 (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.”
Trump had earlier described the operation as a “humanitarian gesture” intended to assist ships and crews facing shortages of food and essential supplies, while also preventing major disruptions to international shipping.
The operation, however, heightened tensions in the region. The United States claimed it had sunk several Iranian boats allegedly threatening commercial vessels, while reports also emerged of attacks on civilian ships in nearby waters.
Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had completed the offensive phase of its military campaign against Iran, known as “Operation Epic Fury.”
“The operation is over — Epic Fury — as the president notified Congress. We’re done with that stage of it,” Rubio said.
He stressed that US naval actions in the Strait of Hormuz were defensive in nature. “This is not an offensive operation; this is a defensive operation… there’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first,” Rubio added.
Rubio said the United States believes it has achieved the objectives of the war, but emphasised that Washington still prefers a negotiated settlement with Iran despite continuing tensions in the region.
