The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that he has temporarily suspended the program called ‘Project Freedom,’ in which the country’s military was escorting commercial ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, in order to give a chance to peace talks aimed at ending the war in Iran.
Social Media Statement
President Trump made the announcement through social media, indicating that it is a temporary decision to allow the talks to yield results.
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Conditions Behind the Decision
He stated that the decision was made after discussions with Iran and a request from other countries led by Pakistan as a mediator in the talks, but he emphasized that the plan to close Iran’s ports remains fully in place.
Trump’s Official Statement
He wrote, “There is significant progress we have made toward a final agreement with representatives of Iran. Both sides have agreed that the closure of Iran’s ports will continue, but the program to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz has been temporarily suspended to allow time to see whether it is possible or not to reach the signing of an agreement.”
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Progress and Challenges of the Program
He continued by stating that the program to escort commercial ships, which he launched on Monday, May 4, 2026, had been progressing well with U.S. forces, but it had also faced frequent disagreements from both sides.
Impact on Global Shipping
Despite this statement from the United States, there are still many ships, numbering in the hundreds and carrying around 23,000 crew members, stranded in the Persian Gulf without passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed. This situation continues to cause petroleum products among their cargo to rise in price worldwide.
Iran’s Response
Iran has not yet made an official statement regarding the decision announced by President Trump, but some of its officials have indicated that they have not yet made a final decision on the matter.
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Statement from U.S. Secretary of State
The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that key military operations the United States was supposed to carry out are nearing completion, but noted that lasting peace will only be achieved if Iran accepts the demands placed on it, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
