Washington: US President Donald Trump has announced a temporary pause to “Project Freedom” - the American-led effort to guide stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz - saying the move is aimed at creating space for negotiations with Iran. Trump said he hopes to finalise a broader agreement with Tehran to end the ongoing conflict, while maintaining the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.

The announcement came despite senior US officials earlier insisting operations in the region were continuing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the ceasefire in the Middle East remained intact and described recent US military actions as defensive in nature. Rubio stressed that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address concerns over its nuclear programme for peace efforts to move forward.

The continued tensions in the strategic waterway have disrupted global shipping and energy markets, with hundreds of commercial vessels still stranded in the Persian Gulf. Fuel prices have surged worldwide as uncertainty grows over maritime security in the region. Meanwhile, Iran has yet to officially respond to Trump’s latest announcement, although Iranian officials signalled that negotiations and regional tensions remain unresolved.

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