Washington DC [US], May 6, 2026, BNN Web Staff (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that “Project Freedom”, a US-led initiative designed to assist commercial vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions in the Gulf, will be temporarily paused, even as the naval blockade on Iran continues in full force.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump stated that the decision followed requests from Pakistan and several other countries involved in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran.
He added that Islamabad has been playing a mediating role in attempts to facilitate dialogue between the two sides.
Trump also claimed that the pause comes in the backdrop of what he described as “significant military success” during ongoing operations linked to Iran, alongside reported progress toward a possible agreement with Iranian representatives.
According to his statement, the temporary suspension of the initiative is intended to allow space for negotiations to reach a final settlement.
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other countries… we have mutually agreed that, while the blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom… will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the agreement can be finalised and signed,” Trump wrote.
“Project Freedom” was launched earlier this week to support commercial shipping trapped in the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy and trade route that has been heavily disrupted amid escalating regional tensions.
On Monday, the US Central Command (United States Central Command) confirmed the start of operations under the initiative, deploying naval and air assets to assist merchant vessels seeking safe passage through the waterway.
The operation reportedly includes guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, unmanned systems across multiple domains, and around 15,000 personnel.
The initiative was initially framed as a large-scale effort to restore maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz, while maintaining pressure on Iran through a continuing blockade on its ports.
Despite the temporary pause, US officials have indicated that military restrictions and the blockade on Iranian maritime activity will remain unchanged, suggesting that tensions in the region are likely to persist while diplomatic discussions continue.
