Trump Administration Pauses Project Freedom Military Operation After 48 Hours
The Trump administration has temporarily halted Project Freedom, a military operation launched to escort commercial vessels through Iran-restricted shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. The pause came less than two days after the operation began, following requests from Pakistan and other countries amid ongoing negotiations with Iran. Trump indicated the suspension is conditional, stating the operation could resume if a Pakistan-mediated agreement with Iran fails to materialize. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had praised the initiative as a humanitarian success, with two U.S. merchant vessels successfully transiting the strait before the pause.
