Trump pauses Strait escort operation amid ‘progress’ on Iran deal

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would temporarily pause a naval escort mission in the Strait of Hormuz, citing “great progress” toward a broader agreement with Iran.

The operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” was launched to escort stranded commercial vessels through the Gulf after the waterway was effectively shut during the ongoing conflict, disrupting nearly 20% of global oil supplies.

Trump said the decision to pause the mission followed requests from Pakistan and other countries.

“We have mutually agreed that, while the blockade will remain in full force, Project Freedom will be paused briefly to see whether the agreement can be finalised,” he said on social media.

Earlier, Marco Rubio had outlined the escort effort, which began Monday to guide tankers out of the Gulf amid heightened maritime risks.

Following Trump’s announcement, US crude oil futures dropped by $2.30, falling below the $100-per-barrel mark — a key threshold amid the recent energy crisis triggered by the conflict.

There was no immediate response from Tehran.

US officials maintain that Iran must not control shipping through the strait. Tehran has threatened to deploy mines, drones, missiles and fast-attack vessels, while Washington has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports and conducted escorted transits.

The US military said it had recently destroyed several Iranian boats, along with cruise missiles and drones in the region.

Rubio told reporters that the broader US military campaign, launched on February 28 alongside Israel under “Operation Epic Fury,” had achieved its objectives.

“Operation Epic Fury is concluded,” he said, adding that Washington was not seeking further escalation.

Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth said hundreds of commercial ships were lining up to pass through the strait, while the current ceasefire with Iran remained intact but under close monitoring.

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Dan Caine noted that Iranian actions so far had not crossed the threshold for renewed large-scale conflict.

Pakistan has continued to play a central mediating role, having hosted talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad, though further rounds of negotiations have yet to take place.

The conflict, which has spread across the Gulf and into Lebanon, has disrupted global markets and strained economies. The International Monetary Fund warned that even if the war ends immediately, recovery could take several months.

Despite ongoing tensions, diplomatic efforts remain underway, with Abbas Araghchi continuing engagements with global counterparts, including talks in China on regional developments.