US president Donald Trump has announced he will pause his plan to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing “great progress” toward a deal to end the war with Iran.
Trump said the decision to pause “Project Freedom” was “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”.
The president wrote on Truth Social Tuesday evening, Washington time, that Project Freedom would be paused by “mutual agreement” and it would be “for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.”
The US naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain in effect, according to Trump.
Meanwhile, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said the US is pursuing “a policy of maximum pressure” while also expecting Iran to submit to “unilateral demands” – a contradiction he said is “impossible” for Tehran.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Ghalibaf, earlier said: “We know well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America, while we are just getting started.”
