Trump announced that "Project Freedom" in the Strait of Hormuz will be suspended
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the decision was made due to huge military successes and significant progress in achieving a peace agreement with Iran.
Photo: AP Photo / Alex Brandon
US President Donald Trump announced that the operation to escort vessels detained in the Persian Gulf will be suspended for a "short period of time" to assess the possibility of concluding a peace agreement with Tehran, writes the BBC.
According to him, "Project Freedom," which began on Monday, will be suspended at the request of Pakistan, which is mediating the negotiations, as well as other countries.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the decision was made due to "huge military successes" and "significant progress" in achieving a peace agreement with Iran.
"While the blockade remains, 'Project Freedom' (the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz) will be suspended for a short period of time to find out whether an agreement can be finalized and signed," he added.
Oil prices fell slightly at the start of trading in Asia on Wednesday following Trump's statements.
Iranian state media stated that the suspension of the operation indicates that Trump "backed down" after a series of setbacks in attempts to unblock the waterway vital for global shipping.
Trump's statement came shortly after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at a White House briefing that "Operation Epic Rage," which began in late February, had achieved its goals, and Washington was moving to the next phase, namely "Project Freedom."
"We chose the path of peace. The President would prefer to make a deal," the head of the State Department said on Tuesday evening.
Speaking about the project, Rubio noted that it is exclusively defensive in nature. "There will be no shooting until we are shot at first," he added.
Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that destroyers, aircraft, and 15,000 troops would be involved in the vessel escort operation.
General Dan Kane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Tuesday that more than 1,500 vessels carrying approximately 22,500 sailors are blocked in the Persian Gulf.
Washington's statements came amid a series of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz – raising fears that the truce is at risk of collapse. The US stated that its goal is to remove the detained vessels from the Persian Gulf.
On Monday, Trump stated that Iran would be "wiped off the face of the Earth" if it tried to attack American vessels participating in the operation.
Tehran has not yet commented on the latest US statements, but Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf stated on Tuesday that the US and its allies have jeopardized navigation safety in the strait "due to ceasefire violations and the imposition of a blockade" against Iran.
"However, their evil deeds will not succeed," he said.
Late on Tuesday evening, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported, citing sources, that a cargo ship was hit by an "unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz. No further details about the incident are available yet.
On Tuesday, the authorities of the United Arab Emirates stated that their air defense systems had intercepted Iranian missiles and drones for the second consecutive day, calling it a dangerous escalation. Iran denies that it carried out attacks on the UAE.
Operation "Epic Rage" began on February 28, when the US and Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran. Tehran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed before the war.
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