The US mission to guide stalled vessels through the Strait of Hormuz would be halted for a “short period of time,” President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday evening. Trump announced that “Project Freedom,” which had begun days before, would be ended by “mutual agreement” because “great progress” had been made toward a deal with Iran.
Iranian state media hailed the postponement as a win, claiming that Trump had “retreated” after “continued failures” to reopen the critical waterway for world shipping. The US president’s declaration came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the initial US-Israeli operation in Iran, Operation Epic Fury, had completed its objectives.
In a social media post, Trump stated that he made the decision “at the request of Pakistan,” which has served as an intermediary between the US and Iran. He also stated that the US blockade on Iranian ports will stay in place.
Trump’s announcement may surprise some. It contradicts a day’s worth of propaganda from Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, all of whom promised that the operation will ensure freedom of navigation and commerce in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.
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