Trump Pauses ‘Project Freedom’ Mission in Strait of Hormuz Days After Launch

Donald Trump has announced a pause in a planned U.S. military operation aimed at escorting stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, just 50 hours after unveiling the initiative.

The operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” had been introduced on Sunday as a response to escalating tensions with Iran, which has effectively restricted access to the vital waterway amid its conflict involving Israel.

The strait is one of the world’s most critical transit routes, carrying roughly 20% of global oil and gas supplies. Iran’s threats to vessels navigating the passage have driven sharp increases in oil prices and raised concerns about broader economic disruption.

However, in a post on Truth Social, Trump said the mission would be put on hold “for a short period of time,” without providing detailed reasoning for the sudden shift.

The decision came shortly after senior administration officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, had publicly reinforced the plan, describing it as a demonstration of U.S. leadership and stability in safeguarding global commerce.

Reports from U.S. media outlets suggested that a potential diplomatic framework with Iran may be emerging, raising hopes that a negotiated solution could ease tensions and reopen the strait without military intervention.

Despite that, Trump signalled caution about the prospects of a deal, warning that any agreement remains uncertain.

In his latest comments, he said that assuming Iranian cooperation was “a big assumption,” adding that failure to reach a deal could lead to renewed military action at a level “much higher and intensity” than earlier operations, including Operation Epic Fury.

The abrupt pause has left the situation largely unchanged on the ground. More than 1,000 vessels remain stranded in the Gulf region, with crews still awaiting safe passage.