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Trump pauses 'Project Freedom' amid potential deal with Iran

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Trump pauses 'Project Freedom' amid potential deal with Iran





Submitted by
Mera Aladam
on
Wed, 05/06/2026 - 07:42






While the military operation to escort ships in Strait of Hormuz is on hold, the US says the blockade on Iran will remain


US President Donald Trump during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on 5 May 2026 (Kent Nishimura/AFP)
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US President Donald Trump has said Washington will temporarily halt a military operation aimed at guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing a potential breakthrough in a deal with Iran.

He indicated on his Truth Social platform that the blockade on Iran will, however, “remain in full force and effect”. 

Dubbed “Operation Project Freedom”, the US plan to escort ships sailing in the strait was launched days ago, despite an Iranian blockade on the waterway.

“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries... 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 said. 

A US Central Command (Centcom) spokesperson previously told Al Jazeera that the military’s initiative in Hormuz was a temporary operation aimed at securing maritime transit.

The spokesperson said the plan was establishing a “safe corridor” and a “security umbrella” across the waterway, and added that the US had received positive reactions from shipowners and insurance firms. 

Trump announced the operation on Sunday, which he described as a humanitarian mission to retrieve ships that had been barred from leaving the body of water by Tehran.

The US president warned Iran that any interference in the operation would result in a military response.

Following his remarks, Iran’s Fars news agency reported that its forces had struck a US warship with two missiles as it attempted to cross the waterway. 

Trump denied the claim on Monday, adding that only a South Korean vessel had been hit. He said that the US had shot seven “fast” attack boats in the Gulf. Iran denied the claim. 

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Earlier this week, as Washington began escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Centcom said the operation was supported by more than 100 aircraft and about 15,000 personnel.  

A key energy chokepoint, through which about a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas flows, the Strait of Hormuz is bordered on one side by Iran and on the other by Oman.

The closure of the waterway has resulted in the largest supply loss in history: more than 10 million barrels of oil per day and a 20 percent cut in global liquefied natural gas supply, the International Energy Agency said.

Trump's latest statement comes amid escalating tensions in the region - in spite of a ceasefire that came into effect on 8 April - with the US military claiming it targeted several Iranian vessels sailing through the strait. 

Meanwhile, the Emirati defence ministry accused Iran of conducting missile and drone attacks on its territory for the second day in a row. 

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the accusations, saying the claims were unfounded and that Iran’s military actions were directed “exclusively” at the US.

In a statement, the ministry added that Iran would not “spare any action in taking the necessary and appropriate measures to defend its interests and national security”.

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Story Timeline

Fri 11:47 - Middle East Eye
Japanese LNG tanker crosses Hormuz
Fri 20:55 - Al Jazeera English
Will force be used to reopen Strait of Hormuz?
Sun 01:45 - Middle East Eye
Japan-linked tanker clears Strait of Hormuz
Mon 05:40 - Al Jazeera English
A new regional order for the Strait of Hormuz
Fri 21:58 - Al Jazeera English
Islamabad on lockdown ahead of US-Iran talks
Wed 15:33 - Middle East Eye
Pakistan's army chief lands in Iran
Sat 12:23 - Middle East Eye
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A history of Israel’s invasions of Lebanon
Wed 00:51 - Tagesschau
Trump extends ceasefire with Iran
Thu 11:25 - Al Jazeera English
How Iran raised Hormuz stakes by capturing ships
Wed 09:24 - Middle East Eye
Trump says Iran 'better get smart soon'
Sat 22:58 - Middle East Eye
Trump says US could restart strikes on Iran
Mon 13:39 - Middle East Eye
GCC condemns Iranian attack on UAE oil tanker
Tue 09:48 - Middle East Eye
Iran warns 'not even started' in Hormuz

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