Trump Delays 'Project Freedom' to Pursue Peace Deal with Iran

US President Donald Trump has stated that he has decided to postpone Project Freedom, which aims to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in order to see if a peace agreement with Iran can be reached. “Based on the request from Pakistan and other countries, the extraordinary military success we have achieved during the military operations against Iran, and in addition, the fact that significant progress has been made towards a complete and final agreement with Iranian representatives,” Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform. “We have agreed that, while the blockade will remain fully in place, Project Freedom (ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short time to see if that agreement (peace with Iran) can be finalised and signed,” Trump continued. On 28 February, the US and Israel launched joint strikes against dozens of targets in Iran, including in Tehran, resulting in damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East in self-defence. The escalating tensions around the Iranian region have led to a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas from Persian Gulf countries to global markets, consequently causing rises in oil prices and economic pressures in various parts of the world.