Trump pauses Project Freedom Strait of Hormuz escort mission to push Iran deal

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will pause “Project Freedom,” the military escort operation launched on Monday to protect commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz. The decision, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, follows a request from Pakistan and other mediators who are working to secure a comprehensive agreement with Tehran.

The pause comes after one day of escort missions intended to counter Iran’s recent seizure of control over the strategic waterway. Trump said that while the broader blockade of Iranian ports will remain in effect, “Project Freedom… will be paused for a short period of time to see whether the Agreement can be finalized and signed.” He added that “great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement” with the Iranian government.

Washington has maintained a naval blockade of Iran’s ports since February 28, when the United States and Israel began a coordinated campaign against Iranian military and economic targets. The campaign, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” was intended to pressure Tehran into negotiations to end the conflict that erupted after the two allies struck Iranian leadership sites.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Tuesday that the offensive phase of the operation has concluded. “The operation is over — Epic Fury — as the president notified Congress. We’re done with that stage of it,” Rubio told reporters at the White House. He characterized the Strait of Hormuz actions as defensive, stating that U.S. forces would only fire in response to Iranian attacks.

The escort operation has been controversial. U.S. officials reported sinking seven Iranian vessels and cited several attacks on civilian ships that they attributed to Iran. Images released by the Royal Thai Navy show smoke from the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree after an alleged strike near the strait, highlighting the heightened risk to commercial traffic.

The broader conflict began when U.S. and Israeli forces struck key Iranian installations on February 28, killing senior commanders and damaging infrastructure. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region, prompting a fragile cease‑fire that has since been extended by Trump, despite stalled negotiations.

Trump’s pause of the escort mission signals a willingness to give diplomatic efforts a chance to bear fruit while retaining pressure through the ongoing port blockade. The United States has indicated that the blockade will stay in place until Tehran complies with the demands of the United States and its allies.

The next steps will depend on the progress of talks mediated by Pakistan and other regional actors. Observers note that a definitive settlement could stabilize a critical oil‑transit route and reduce the risk of further escalation in the Middle East.