Trump Suspends ‘Project Freedom’ to Facilitate Iran Peace Talks

(SeaPRwire) –   President Donald Trump announced that the United States would suspend its mission to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz just one day after its launch, aiming to facilitate ongoing peace negotiations with Iran.

The initiative, known as “Project Freedom,” oversaw the passage of two commercial vessels out of the Strait on Monday. This occurred amid renewed hostilities between the warring nations despite a fragile cease-fire. The U.S.-Iran cease-fire, originally set to expire two weeks after beginning on April 8, was indefinitely extended on April 21. Iran had previously warned that any U.S. interference in the Strait would constitute a violation of the cease-fire agreement.

Since early March, Iran has militarized the Strait in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli military operations, permitting only vessels with its authorization to pass through. This restriction has disrupted global shipping, causing oil and gas prices to surge and increasing commodity costs worldwide. The situation is expected to persist, especially as Iran intends to maintain control over the Strait beyond the conflict. More than 20,000 sailors aboard approximately 1,600 vessels remain stranded in the region. According to the International Maritime Organization, at least 10 sailors have been killed since the start of the war.

“Based on the request of Pakistan and other countries, the tremendous military success we have achieved during our campaign against Iran, and the significant progress made toward a comprehensive and final agreement with Iranian representatives, we have mutually agreed that while the blockade will remain fully effective, Project Freedom (the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be temporarily paused to determine whether an agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday.

Trump’s announcement followed a suspected Iranian attack that damaged a South Korean cargo ship. The U.S. military reported sinking seven Iranian patrol boats. The United Arab Emirates and Oman also alleged Iranian strikes on their territories on Monday, with the UAE intercepting additional attacks on Tuesday. Iranian state media denied U.S. claims of destroying Iranian vessels and instead accused the U.S. of attacking civilian ships and killing five civilians in the Strait. Iran stated its forces fired “warning shots” at U.S. vessels in the Strait but did not publicly confirm attacks on the South Korean ship or Oman. Iran also denied striking the UAE but warned that any future actions against Iranian islands and ports based on false statements would result in a severe and crushing response from the Iranian Armed Forces.

Trump ‘wants a deal’

Trump administration officials appear determined to prevent further escalation with Iran that could deepen U.S. involvement in the Middle East. On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated the cease-fire remains “not over,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the conclusion of the two-month-long military operation dubbed Operation Epic Fury. Rubio indicated the U.S. has now transitioned to a “defensive” posture focused on restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump declined to specify what Iranian actions would violate the cease-fire. “They know what to do,” he said, “and more importantly, they know what not to do.” On Monday, Trump reportedly threatened that Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it attacked U.S. ships, echoing his previous threats to destroy an entire civilization if Iran refused to open the Strait.

It remains unclear whether the U.S. has alternative plans to reopen the Strait while “Project Freedom” is suspended. However, Trump confirmed the weeks-long naval blockade of Iranian ports will continue. This blockade has significantly impacted Iran’s energy exports, which are crucial to its economy already weakened before the war. Millions of Iranians are experiencing soaring inflation and lost income as jobs are eliminated or temporarily halted.

“Project Freedom” reportedly replaced a more aggressive strategy previously considered by Trump to forcefully reopen the Strait and resume full-scale war if Iran retaliated against Gulf countries, as it appears to have done. However, Trump ultimately chose what officials described as a defensive “humanitarian” approach to “guide” commercial vessels by stationing U.S. Navy ships “in the vicinity” rather than directly escorting them through the Strait.

“The president wants action,” an American official told Axios. “He doesn’t want to sit still. He wants pressure. He wants a deal.”

The U.S. and Iran have been engaged in indirect negotiations since the first round of marathon talks collapsed and a subsequent in-person meeting stalled. Key unresolved issues include the U.S. demand for Iran to abandon its nuclear program and Iran’s insistence on maintaining control over the Strait. Iran previously cited Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon as justification for keeping the Strait closed.

While Trump has indicated progress in negotiations, U.S. officials told Axios the outcome remains uncertain.

“There are talks. There are offers. We don’t like theirs. They don’t like ours. We still don’t know the status of the [Supreme Leader],” an official said. “And they’re carrying messages by hand to caves or wherever he or whoever is hiding. It slows the process down. It’s either we’re looking at the real contours of an achievable deal soon, or he’s going to bomb the hell out of them.”