US to pause effort to guide ships out of Strait of Hormuz to focus on Iran deal
President Donald Trump says the United States will pause efforts to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz in order to try and finalise a deal with Iran.
American forces had attempted to reopen the strait earlier this week, but Mr Trump confirmed a US blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place while talks were held.
Announcing the decision in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Mr Trump said he was temporarily pausing the initiative to guide ships out of the waterway for a limited time in order to give space to finalise a settlement with Iran to end the war.
Mr Trump said: “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, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, 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 announcement followed US secretary of state Marco Rubio’s insistence that a ceasefire in the region was holding after the initial US military operation against Iran had concluded.
Mr Rubio told a White House press briefing on Tuesday that for peace to be achieved, Iran must agree to the president’s demands on its nuclear programme and agree to reopen the strait.
On Tuesday, a top military commander said that now is the time for countries with an “equity stake” in the Strait of Hormuz to assist the US.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made his comments as America moved to reopen the strategic waterway to commercial shipping, protected by what Washington described as “a powerful red, white and blue dome”.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth also repeated that he expected the rest of the world “to step up” and said the US would hand over responsibility “at the appropriate time and soon”.
The White House has been deeply critical of the response by the UK and other allies to the Gulf crisis, insisting other nations needed the strait more than the US.
Mr Hegseth recently dismissed efforts led by Britain and France to ensure the future security of the strait as “silly” and said they should have “less fancy conferences in Europe and get in a boat”.
The sea route, which is a major supply line for oil and gas supplies, had been open prior to the US and Israel launching strikes against Iran.
In retaliation, Tehran effectively closed the shipping lane and started charging hefty tolls for transit, sparking a global energy crisis that has seen prices rocket.
This led the US to impose its own blockade of Iranian ports, leading to a stand-off.
In a bid to break Iran’s stranglehold, America this week launched an operation, known as Project Freedom, to create an “enhanced security area” along the strait, aimed at enabling shipping to get through and releasing more than 1,500 vessels trapped by the conflict.
While this has triggered fresh attacks by Tehran, the US insists it falls “below the threshold” for resuming hostilities and the existing ceasefire still holds.
Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, General Caine said: “Project freedom is designed to protect commercial shipping and help restore the flow of commerce through the strait and sustain freedom of navigation.
“Centcom has established an enhanced security area on the southern side of the strait that is now protected by US land, naval and air assets to help defeat further Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.”
He added: “Now is the time for those with equity stake in the strait to come assist.”
Mr Hegseth said: “For too long, Iran has been harassing ships, shooting at civilian tankers from all nations, and trying to impose a tolling system.
“Iran’s plan, a form of international extortion, is unacceptable.”
Mr Rubio also warned failing to take action in the strait would leave other key maritime trade routes vulnerable.
He said: “If we live in a world where a rogue state like this Iranian regime is allowed to claim, as a new normal, control over an international shipping lane, it will not be long before you see that happen in multiple shipping lanes around the world.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub