US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday (May 5) that he would suspend the US-led Project Freedom operation, but emphasized that the US Navy's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would continue.
Trump wrote in a statement, "Based on requests from Pakistan and other countries, and our tremendous military success during our military operations against Iran, and significant progress made with Iranian representatives toward a comprehensive and final agreement, we have agreed that, although the blockade will remain in full force, the Freedom of Navigation Program (transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be suspended for a short period to observe whether this agreement can be finalized and signed."
"Operation Freedom" is a U.S. escort operation launched on Monday (4th) aimed at assisting commercial vessels in safely passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military has deployed destroyers and various military assets to the area due to Iran's continued threats to shipping safety over the past few weeks, which have brought the waterways to a near standstill.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the fragile ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran remains in effect, but he emphasized that the "Freedom Project" is a temporary defensive measure aimed at restoring shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. military's "Operation Epic Fury" has officially ended, while warning Iran against further challenging the U.S. red line.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine stated that as of Tuesday morning, more than 1500 ships and approximately 22,500 crew members were stranded in the Persian Gulf.
He stated that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has established an enhanced security zone south of the Strait of Hormuz, maintained jointly by land, sea, and air forces, to prevent further threats to commercial shipping from Iran.
