US President Donald Trump has announced a temporary pause to “Project Freedom,” a US-led naval operation launched to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Iran.
Trump said the mission would be placed on hold as Washington attempts to finalise a broader agreement with Tehran following weeks of regional escalation. Despite the pause, US restrictions and military pressure targeting Iranian maritime activity in the Gulf remain in place.
The operation was introduced after rising concerns over attacks and disruptions affecting shipping routes through the strategically vital waterway, which handles a significant portion of global oil exports.
US officials said only limited commercial traffic had passed through the corridor since the operation began, while fuel prices and shipping insurance costs have continued to rise amid uncertainty in the region. Iran has not formally responded to Trump’s latest remarks, though indirect negotiations between the two sides are reportedly continuing through regional mediators.
