Trump announces the suspension of Operation “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz and the maintenance of the blockade

US President Donald Trump said today that he will suspend the military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, just one day after its launch, in an attempt to reach an agreement with Iran to end the war in the Middle East.

Trump wrote on his “Truth Social” platform: “At the request of Pakistan and other countries, and the tremendous military success we achieved during the campaign against Iran, in addition to the fact that we have made significant progress toward a complete and final agreement with Iran’s representatives, we have mutually agreed that, while the blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz) will be suspended for a short period to see whether or not the agreement can be completed and signed.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday that the United States had ended its offensive operations against Iran.

Rubio said in a press conference at the White House, “Operation Epic Fury has ended, as the President informed Congress. We have ended this phase of it.”

Rubio pointed out that “the American priority now is to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.”

This came after the Chief of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Keane, announced on Tuesday that his forces are ready to resume large-scale combat operations against Iran, if they receive orders to do so, adding that “no adversary should interpret the current restraint as a weakness in resolve.”