President Donald Trump halted a major U.S. military operation just one day after it began, catching observers off guard with a sudden reversal. The president cited a surprising reason for pausing “Project Freedom,” the effort to guide commercial ships through one of the world’s most critical waterways.
Donald Trump says he is pausing ‘Project Freedom’
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he is pausing “Project Freedom.” The U.S. military operation aimed to guide commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump launched the effort just one day before deciding to halt it.
Trump cited diplomatic progress with Iran as a key reason for the pause. He wrote on Truth Social that “Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement” with Iran. He added that “Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.”
The Trump administration previously framed the operation as urgent and necessary for civilian safety. Officials said nearly 23,000 sailors on vessels representing 87 countries remain stranded in the Persian Gulf. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the sailors “sitting ducks” who have been “left for dead” by the Iranian regime (via CNBC).
Rubio warned that stranded crews face dire conditions beyond lost cargo. He stated that sailors are “isolated, they’re starving, they’re vulnerable, and at least 10 sailors have already died” due to Iran’s blockade. U.S. Central Command had deployed guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members to support the operation.
Stock futures rose after Trump’s announcement as investors anticipated a potential peace deal. The pause followed renewed hostilities, including missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates from Iran on Monday. A South Korean-operated vessel also caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump attributed to an Iranian attack. Defense experts had earlier expressed skepticism about “Project Freedom” achieving its stated objectives.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
