Trump says US may revive “Project Freedom” maritime operation in Strait of Hormuz

• Trump says US may revive “Project Freedom” maritime operation in the Strait of Hormuz if efforts toward a deal with Iran fail.

US President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington could resume a short-lived maritime operation known as “Project Freedom,” which was intended to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in the region.

“I think Project Freedom is good, but I think we have other ways of doing it also. We may go back to Project Freedom if things don’t happen, but it’d be Project Freedom plus, meaning Project Freedom, plus other things,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House.

The US Central Command announced the operation on Sunday, describing it as an effort to “restore freedom of navigation” in the strategic waterway. At the time, officials said it was not an escort mission, though details of the initiative were limited.

However, Trump abruptly suspended the operation on Tuesday, saying in a post on Truth Social that there had been “great progress” toward a potential agreement aimed at ending the conflict that has disrupted maritime traffic in the strait. He said the pause would last “for a short period of time” to allow time for a deal to be finalized and signed.

No agreement has yet been reached, and US officials are now awaiting a new proposal from Iran.