Trump Pauses Project Freedom Strait of Hormuz Escort Two Days After Launch

US President Donald Trump said the military operation to guide stranded merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz will pause just two days after he announced it.

Trump declared on Sunday that "Project Freedom" would begin the next morning to unblock the waterway, which Tehran has effectively closed since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran. Iran's threats to ships using the strait, through which 20 percent of the world's oil and gas flows, have driven up oil prices and raised fears for the global economy.

But 50 hours later, the president posted that the mission was on hold "for a short period of time." His decision came the same day his defense secretary declared the US was "leading with strength, clarity and purpose for the benefit of the entire world."

"For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform at 21:35 BST (20:35 GMT). "I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait."

The Baltic and International Maritime Council shipping association said some 1,000 vessels with around 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the region. "I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all," he added.

Just after midnight UK time on Monday, the US military's Central Command posted that its forces "will begin supporting Project Freedom, 4 May, to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz." UKMTO, the British military's operation tracking threats to shipping in the Middle East, said the US was advising vessels to pass through a "security area" off the Oman coast.

Later that day, Centcom posted: "As a first step, two US-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey."

Trump said during the first day of the operation the US military struck seven Iranian "fast boats" in the strait, a claim disputed by Iranian media. The Tasnim news agency reported military sources saying two small cargo vessels had been hit, killing five civilians.

On Monday the UAE's foreign ministry reported a tanker affiliated with Adnoc, its state-owned oil company, was hit in the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea reported an explosion on one of its ships anchored just off the UAE. A fire also broke out at the oil port of Fujairah after what the UAE said was an Iranian attack, which Iran denied.

"Hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit," Hegseth said, while Caine added: "Merchant vessels have transited and we anticipate more to transit over the coming days." Neither offered an exact timeline for how long the project would last, but Hegseth said it was "focused in scope and temporary in duration."

"Project Freedom is under way, commerce will be flowing, and America is once again leading with strength, clarity and purpose for the benefit of the entire world. Our will is unshakable," he added.

Later that day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House the US was carrying out the operation as a "favour to the world" as it was "the only country that can project power in that part of the world the way we're doing now."

At 23:52 BST (22:52 GMT) Trump posted on Truth Social that the decision had been made by "mutual agreement" because there had been "great progress" towards a deal with Iran. "Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," the president posted.