Trump Says Strait of Hormuz Shipping Operation ‘Project Freedom’ Paused as Iran Talks Advance

President Donald Trump said he is temporarily suspending “Project Freedom,” a shipping operation in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a Truth Social post on May 5, Trump wrote that the pause was mutually agreed upon at the request of Pakistan and other countries, while taking into account progress in negotiations with Iran.

He said there had been substantial progress toward a complete and final agreement with Iran, signaling the possibility of a deal. Trump added that blockade measures would remain in place.

Project Freedom is a military operation intended to ensure ship transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a key flashpoint tied to tensions in the Middle East.

Trump described the move as a short-term suspension aimed at determining whether an agreement can be reached. He also indicated that the policy could shift depending on the progress of the talks.