US president says he is pausing US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the strait of Hormuz but blockade remains
Donald Trump has announced that he is pausing ‘Project Freedom’, the US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the strait of Hormuz, so that he can finalise a deal with Iran, but added that his blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place.
Trump announced the decision in a social media post, saying he was pausing the effort for a short period to give space for US efforts to finalise a settlement with Iran to end the war.
Trump said he was making the move 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”.
The announcement came after military leaders and US secretary of state Marco Rubio insisted a ceasefire in the Middle East was still holding and that – while the conflict is not resolved – the initial major US military operation against Iran has concluded.
