"Project Freedom on Hold": Trump Pauses US Mission to Guide Ships as Iran Deal Hopes Rise – But Blockade Remains

6 May 2026 | Washington / Tehran / Gulf of Oman

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two days. That is how long "Project Freedom" lasted.

Donald Trump announced he is pausing the US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz – just 48 hours after it launched – so he can finalize a deal with Iran. But the blockade of Iranian ports, he said, would remain in place.

The abrupt change of plan was declared in a social media post, Trump saying he was pausing the effort for "a short period" to give space for US efforts to finalize a settlement with Iran to end the war.

"We're Done with That Stage": Rubio Declares Epic Fury Over

The announcement came after military leaders and Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted a ceasefire in the Middle East was still holding and that – while the conflict is not resolved – the initial major US military operation against Iran has concluded.

"The operation is over. Epic Fury – as the president notified Congress – we're done with that stage of it," Rubio said.

Rubio told the White House press briefing Tuesday that for peace to be achieved, Iran must agree to Trump's demands on its nuclear program and also agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump's pausing of Project Freedom appeared to run counter to comments Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made only hours earlier.

The Hegseth-Rubio Contradiction: "We Hold the Cards" vs "We Pause"

In a Pentagon news conference, Hegseth said the US had successfully secured a path through the waterway and that hundreds of commercial ships were lining up to pass through. "We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this fact. They said they control the strait. They do not," he said.

Rubio later said the US was working to get ships through the strait as a "favour to the world … because we're the only ones that can." As Rubio was addressing reporters, a cargo vessel in the strait reported it had been struck by an unknown projectile.

So far, only two merchant ships are known to have passed through the US-guarded route, with hundreds more – carrying up to 23,000 crew members – bottled up in the Persian Gulf.

Hegseth and General Dan Caine, the US military's top officer, told a news conference that Iran's renewed attacks had not reached the threshold of what Caine called "major combat operations." He said Tuesday marked a "quieter" day in the strait.

"The ceasefire is not over," Hegseth said.

Iran's Strike on UAE and the "Unknown Projectile"

For a second day, the United Arab Emirates said it came under attack from Iranian drones and missiles – claims denied by Tehran.

Disputing Washington's claim of sinking six Iranian boats, an Iranian military commander said two small civilian cargo boats were hit Monday, killing five civilians, Iran's state TV reported.

At the White House, Rubio said clashes with Iran related to American efforts to reopen the strait were "defensive in nature."

"There's no shooting unless we're shot at first, OK? We're not attacking them."

Caine, who serves as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 100 US military aircraft are patrolling the skies over the strait. The US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports since 13 April, depriving Tehran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy.

China's Role: Rubio Hopes Beijing Will Pressure Tehran

Rubio expressed hope that during the visit to China by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, Beijing would reiterate to Tehran the need to release its chokehold on the strait.

"It is in China's interest that Iran stop closing the strait," Rubio said.

Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, signalled Iran has yet to fully respond to the US attempt to reopen the waterway.

"We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet," he said in a post on X. His statement did not mention negotiations with the US that are now in the form of passing messages via Pakistan.

$4.50 Gas and the Midterm Pressure

Rising gasoline prices are proving awkward for Republicans with midterms fast looming. The national average retail price passed $4.50 a gallon on Tuesday for the first time since July 2022, data showed. In the hours after Trump's surprise announcement, the price of Brent crude was holding steady at $108.

Iran's effective closure of the strait – through which major oil and gas supplies passed before the war, along with fertiliser and other petroleum products – has sent fuel prices skyrocketing and rattled the global economy. Breaking Iran's grip would deny its main source of leverage as Trump demands a major rollback of its disputed nuclear program.

The War Powers Deadline: A Legal Contortion

The Trump administration is facing increasing pressure over how it frames the conflict to Congress because of the war powers resolution, a law that typically requires presidents to seek formal approval from Congress for war activities 60 days after beginning military action.

On the eve of the 60-day war powers deadline expiring last week, a senior official of the Trump administration said the US had "terminated" hostilities with Iran since the shaky 8 April ceasefire.

Now, with Project Freedom paused and "Epic Fury" declared over, the administration is attempting to navigate between military reality and legal necessity.

Shipping Giants Stay Away: "Not Possible for Our Ships"

Hapag-Lloyd AG, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, said in a statement that its risk assessment "remains unchanged" and that transits through the strait "are for the moment not possible for our ships."

"For shipping companies and for insurance companies, they still have to wait and see how this plays out," said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

The message from the shipping industry is clear: trust is broken. Even if the US declares the strait open, insurers and shipping lines are not convinced.

What Comes Next?

Trump is betting that diplomatic pressure – with China as an intermediary – can succeed where military pressure has not. Iran's Qalibaf warns that "we have not even begun yet."

The ceasefire holds – barely. The blockade remains. The ships stay stranded. And 23,000 mariners wait.

Project Freedom lasted two days. The war has lasted 68. The negotiating table is set. Whether Iran will sit remains an open question.

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