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Trump Administration Halts Project Freedom
President Trump stated that the U.S. and Iran have agreed to temporarily pause Project Freedom, a U.S.-led operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, to finalize a potential agreement ending the conflict. The blockade remains in effect, following requests from Pakistan and other countries.
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President Trump announced on Monday that the United States and Iran have mutually agreed to pause Project Freedom, a U.S.-led initiative to ensure safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, while the blockade stays in full force. The pause aims to determine if a complete and final agreement can be reached, with Trump citing great progress in negotiations and requests from Pakistan and other countries.
The move follows Iran's establishment of a new body to manage vessel transit in the strait and recent attacks on shipping. Project Freedom began as a response to disruptions in the strait, where around 1,600 ships remain stranded, according to a New York Times report cited in multiple sources.
U.S. warship, stating no Navy vessels were hit. Two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels transited the strait without incident on the same morning.
A French-owned cargo ship, the CGM San Antonio, was struck by what U.S. officials described as a possible land-attack cruise missile late Tuesday evening local time near Dubai. Several Filipino crew members were injured in the incident, which marked the fourth ship attack in the region since Sunday, including a fire, a projectile strike, and a small craft assault.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed receiving a report of a cargo vessel hit by an unknown projectile. Iran responded to the start of Project Freedom by declaring a new control area in the strait and resuming limited strikes on shipping and some Gulf neighbors, according to U.S. officials.
Secretary of State Rubio described the U.S. operation as defensive, emphasizing that there would be no shooting unless fired upon first. He added that Operation Epic Fury had concluded.
“This is not an offensive operation, this is a defensive operation, and what that means is very simple, there's no shooting unless we're shot at first.”
