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Shkruar nga PamfletiTrump announced that he was suspending "Project Freedom," the US effort to clear blocked ships from the Strait of Hormuz, in order to finalize a deal with Iran, but added that his blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place.
US President Donald Trump has suspended the US military operation to escort ships in the Strait of Hormuz, less than 48 hours after it began, Western media report.
But according to Trump, the US blockade of Iranian ports will remain in force.
Trump said the decision was made after a request from Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator between the US and Iran, adding that "great progress has been made towards a full and final agreement" with Tehran.
On the other hand, Iranian state media described this move as a "withdrawal", linking it to Trump's "continued failures" to reopen this vital route for global maritime transport.
Shortly before Trump's announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the initial US-Israeli offensive on Iran, known as Operation "Epic Fury", had ended after its objectives had been achieved and had been replaced by a new operation called "Project Freedom".
Diplomatic processes and next steps
The temporary suspension of Operation Project Freedom is part of diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions with Iran.
Despite the suspension of this initiative, Donald Trump made it clear that the naval blockade remains in force, suggesting that the United States is keeping up the pressure while also considering the possibility of reaching an agreement.
Earlier, Marco Rubio, at a press conference at the White House, argued that the offensive phase of the conflict is over.
"Operation Epic Fury is over, as the president has notified Congress. We have passed that stage," said the US Secretary of State.
As he stressed, the US is now acting defensively: "We only respond if we are attacked. This is a defensive operation. 'If the ships are not fired upon and we are not fired upon, we do not open fire, but if they fire upon us, we will return fire.'"
Marco Rubio also said the US is in contact with ships that want to leave the Persian Gulf.
For his part, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had stated that "hundreds" of ships are waiting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the pressure on international maritime transport.
Pressure on Tehran and diplomatic contacts
The US Secretary of State called on Iran to "accept reality", noting that special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner continue to work towards a diplomatic solution.
As he said, the negotiating table is not only about uranium enrichment, but also about the fate of nuclear materials that remain buried and accessible by Iran.
"The president was clear that it's not just about enrichment, but also about what happens to the material that is buried deep and to which the Iranians still have access," he stressed.
Marco Rubio expressed hope that China will pressure Iran to change its stance on the Strait of Hormuz, warning that its actions are leading to international isolation.
Referring to the draft resolution that Washington is promoting in the UN Security Council, he noted that "adjustments" have been made to avoid a possible veto by Moscow and Beijing.
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