On Tuesday, President Donald Trump declared a temporary halt to “Project Freedom,” an operation aimed at facilitating maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting significant advancements towards reaching a comprehensive agreement with Iran.
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump remarked, “We have made great strides towards a complete and final agreement with representatives of Iran.”
He further explained, “At the request of Pakistan and other nations, and given the considerable military success we have achieved during our campaign against Iran, we have mutually decided that while the blockade will remain fully in effect, Project Freedom (the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be temporarily paused to determine if the agreement can be finalized and signed.”
This announcement followed a statement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who indicated that “Operation Epic Fury,” initiated on February 28, had successfully met its objectives and was now concluded.
Rubio stated, “Operation Epic Fury has concluded. We achieved the goals set for this operation. We are not seeking further conflict; we prefer a peaceful resolution. What @POTUS desires is a deal, which Iran has not yet pursued.”
Regarding Project Freedom, Rubio highlighted that the operation was intended to evacuate nearly 23,000 civilians from 87 different nations who were stranded in the Persian Gulf.
“This is not an offensive mission. It is a defensive one, meaning there will be no firing unless we are provoked. We do not intend to attack, but we must respond if we are attacked or if a ship is threatened,” Rubio explained.
As of early Wednesday morning in Tehran, there had been no immediate response to these developments.
Following Trump’s announcement, US crude oil futures experienced a decline of $2.30, dropping below the $100 per barrel mark, a critical threshold that has been impacted by rising energy prices over the past two months due to the ongoing conflict.
Project Freedom was initiated on Monday to guide ships that were stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to safety. Trump had revealed the operation on Sunday, with the US Central Command commencing its implementation the following day.
However, the initiative has led to heightened tensions in the narrow waterway, which is vital for the transit of approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, as the UAE accused Iran of attacking its vessels. The US also reported the destruction of several Iranian small boats.
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