Trump temporarily suspends U.S. naval escort operation in Strait of Hormuz amid Iran nuclear talks

Wed, 06 May 2026 07:22:00 +0200

President Donald Trump has announced a temporary pause in the U.S. military operation known as 'Project Freedom,' which was launched to guide commercial ships through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the pause was requested by Pakistan and several other countries and is intended to create space for finalizing a comprehensive agreement with Iranian representatives. He emphasized that the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports will remain fully in place, underscoring that Washington continues to maintain economic and military pressure on Tehran even as negotiations progress.

U.S. officials have described Project Freedom as a defensive rather than offensive operation, aimed at reducing the risk of attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Despite the pause, American forces are still positioned to respond if attacked, and the administration has indicated that the move does