US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is pausing 'Project Freedom', the American-led effort to guide stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, in order to finalize a comprehensive agreement with Iran. However, he emphasized that the naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place.
Trump's Social Media Announcement
In a post on social media, Trump declared the pause, citing requests from Pakistan and other nations, the military successes achieved during the campaign against Iran, and significant progress toward a final agreement with Iranian representatives. He described the halt as temporary, intended to create space for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Iran has not yet responded to the announcement.
Mixed Signals from US Officials
The decision appeared to contradict statements made earlier Tuesday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Rubio had insisted that the ceasefire in the Middle East was holding and that the initial major US military operation against Iran had concluded. Hegseth, in a Pentagon news conference, claimed that the US had successfully secured a path through the waterway and that hundreds of commercial ships were waiting to transit.
Rubio later clarified that the US was working to reopen the strait as a service to the global community, asserting that only the US had the capability to do so. He expressed hope that during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's visit to China, Beijing would urge Tehran to release its chokehold on the strait.
Current Situation in the Strait
So far, only two merchant ships have successfully passed through the US-guarded route, while hundreds more, carrying up to 23,000 crew members, remain trapped in the Persian Gulf. Iran's effective closure of the strait—a critical passage for oil, gas, fertiliser, and other petroleum products—has driven fuel prices sharply higher and disrupted the global economy. Breaking Iran's grip would remove its primary source of leverage as Trump demands a major rollback of its disputed nuclear program.
Renewed Attacks and Ceasefire Status
For a second day, the United Arab Emirates reported attacks from Iranian drones and missiles, though Tehran denied the allegations. Defense Secretary Hegseth and General Dan Caine, the top US military officer, stated that Iran's renewed attacks did not constitute major combat operations, describing Tuesday as a quieter day in the strait. Hegseth affirmed that the ceasefire remains intact.
Rubio characterized clashes related to US efforts to reopen the strait as defensive in nature, stating, 'There's no shooting unless we're shot at first.' The administration faces increasing scrutiny over how it frames the conflict to Congress, particularly regarding the War Powers Resolution, which requires presidential approval for military actions after 60 days. A senior official recently stated that hostilities with Iran were 'terminated' following the 8 April ceasefire.
Economic and Political Implications
Rising gasoline prices are becoming a political liability for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. The national average retail price surpassed $4.50 per gallon on Tuesday for the first time since July 2022. Following Trump's surprise announcement, Brent crude oil prices held steady at $108 per barrel.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf signaled that Tehran has not yet fully responded to US attempts to reopen the waterway, stating, 'We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet.' His statement did not mention negotiations with the US, which are currently conducted via messages passed through Pakistan.
Military and Civilian Casualties
Disputing US claims of sinking six Iranian boats, an Iranian military commander reported that two small civilian cargo vessels were hit on Monday, killing five civilians, according to Iran's state TV. General Caine revealed that over 100 US military aircraft are patrolling the skies above the strait. The US naval blockade, imposed on 13 April, has deprived Iran of crucial oil revenue needed to support its struggling economy.
Hapag-Lloyd AG, a major container shipping company, stated that its risk assessment remains unchanged and that transits through the strait are currently not possible for its ships. Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, commented, 'For shipping companies and insurance companies, they still have to wait and see how this plays out.'
