Trump Pauses Project Freedom Initiative Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions
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President Donald Trump has announced a pause to the just-launched US initiative that aimed to help guide ships stranded by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
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Breitbart“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump said.
Washington ExaminerPresident Donald Trump said the United States will temporarily halt Project Freedom, its effort to move ships through the Strait of Hormuz, while negotiations with Iran advance.
The Guardian USGood morning. Uncertainty once again reigns in the Middle East. The uneasy ceasefire between the US and Iran threatened to disintegrate after Donald Trump launched an initiative – dubbed “Project Freedom” – to help thousands of sailors stranded in the Gulf by the war to pass through the strait of Hormuz.
New York PostPresident Trump announced the pause of “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday, indicating that “great progress” has been made toward a peace agreement in Iran.
New York TimesPresident Trump said a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would “remain in full force.” The shift came after the defense secretary said U.S. efforts to free trapped vessels would continue.
The HillPresident Trump announced a pause on the U.S. operation Project Freedom on Tuesday evening based on a request from Pakistan and other countries but added that the U.S. Navy blockade of ships in the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place. “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that…
ReutersTrump says operation to reopen Strait of Hormuz will be 'paused' Reuters
Washington TimesMr. Rubio’s comments follow a flare-up in fighting in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, a day after President Trump announced Project Freedom. U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, said that Pentagon forces destroyed six Iranian small boats after being attacked.
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At least 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas travels through the Strait of Hormuz each year, and its closure has driven energy prices higher over the past two months. Average domestic U.S. gas prices reached above $4.30 a gallon this week.
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BBC NewsIran's threats to ships using the strait - through which some 20% of the world's oil and gas flows - has led to large increases in the oil price and fears for the global economy.
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The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of attacking its Fujairah oil industry zone with a drone attack on May 4. Social Media via REUTERS
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BBC NewsThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) - a Gulf ally of the US, which has often been attacked by Iran during the war - said a tanker affiliated with Adnoc, its state-owned oil company, was targeted by two drones as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.
The Guardian USBut Iran did not buy it. They have imposed a blockade on foreign shipping since US-Israeli attacks on 28 February – and maintaining the closure is a key part of their negotiating position. Iran fired missiles at the UAE – a reminder to the world that a return to war is close. In a spate of claims and counterclaims, the US military said that they had destroyed six Iranian small boats carrying missiles and drones.
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Iran insisted that it will take "decisive action" against ships that do not use the regime-approved route through the strait.
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The Guardian US“ Iran’s strength is its ability to keep the strait closed – and if that gets challenged then that’s an important card that Iran would have lost. That’s why it’s so important for them to keep it closed,” he says. “Even though Iran is being careful not to engage with the US navy directly, it is keen to keep up a sense of threat around going through the strait.”
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“This is a defensive operation. And what that means is very simple: There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first,” he stated at the top of his remarks. “If you hear stories about attacks and launching or firing back and forth, it’s not back and forth. We are only responding if attacked first. This is a defensive operation, and that’s what’s occurring here.”
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Washington Times“This is a defensive operation. And what that means is very simple. There’s no shooting unless we are shot at first,” he said. “You’re not gonna let some fast boat come up on the ship and shoot it up. We’re gonna respond to it.”
6 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 BBC News But 50 hours later the president posted that the mission was being put on hold "for a short period of time".
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02 NBC News 03:00 Secret Service Shoots Alleged Gunman Near National Mall in DC 02:03 Trump Addresses Soaring Gas Prices as Average Hits $4.48
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03 The Guardian US Oil prices have eased and stock markets rallied as Donald Trump touted “great progress” towards a “final agreement” with Iran, while momentum in AI-driven trading accelerated.
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04 New York Post At least 11 ships crossed through the critical oil chokepoint in the 24 hours that ended at 6 p.m. Tuesday, as the new US initiative to reopen the strait held hostage by Tehran commenced.
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05 Washington Examiner The United States destroyed nine Iranian vessels on Monday after those ships opened fire on commercial vessels traveling through the strait. U.S. officials, including War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, have remained adamant that the ceasefire with Iran remains in place, despite the attacks.
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06 Washington Times At a press conference at the White House, Mr. Rubio said that U.S. naval vessels will not attack Iran unless they are attacked first.
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