Trump pauses 'Project Freedom' in Strait of Hormuz, citing progress on an Iran deal

Trump announced Tuesday evening that the effort to force the strait open, called "Project Freedom," was being put on hold.

 
"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 wrote on Truth Social.

Trump's “Project Freedom” aimed to use the U.S. military to break Tehran’s chokehold on the critical waterway, which has throttled international shipping and sent energy prices soaring.

But in its aggressive effort to retain its grip on the strait, Iran attacked U.S. ships, hit a neighboring Gulf state for the first time in weeks and came under American fire itself.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted at a Pentagon briefing Tuesday that the ceasefire was "not over" despite the clashes in the strait.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, said that since the ceasefire was announced, Iran had attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times, but he said hostilities were still "below the threshold of restarting major combat operations."

Asked at a White House event Tuesday what Iran would need to do to violate the ceasefire, Trump replied: "Well, you’ll find out, because I’ll let you know. They know what to do, and they know what to do. They know what not to do more importantly, actually."

The U.S. military said that Iran's forces attacked U.S. Navy and commercial ships with cruise missiles Monday and launched drones and small boats at the vessels under U.S. escort but that no American ships were struck. Trump said the U.S. destroyed eight Iranian boats.

Two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels made it through the strait Monday, the U.S. military also said, with shipping giant Maersk confirming that one of its vehicle carriers was escorted out "under U.S. military protection."

Hegseth said at Tuesday's briefing that hundreds of ships from countries around the world were lining up to transit the strait and that the U.S. military was in active communication with them. “As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white and blue dome over the strait,” he said.