(AFP) – President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was halting the US military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz after just one day, in a bid to reach a deal with Iran to end the Middle East war. Trump’s so-called “Project Freedom” to help vessels leave the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint to the Gulf where Iran has seized control in response to being attacked, began on Monday.
But the US leader said on Truth Social that he was now pausing it after a request by mediator Pakistan and other countries, saying that “Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement” with Tehran. “We have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom… will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump said.
Washington is maintaining a blockade of Iran’s ports in a bid to pressure Iran to make a deal to end the war that the United States and Israel launched on February 28. Tensions had been soaring over the Hormuz operation, with the United States saying it had sunk seven Iranian boats, and several civilian vessels coming under attack, allegedly from Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier Tuesday that the United States has completed its offensive operations against Iran, which it dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.” Rubio’s comments echoed statements to Congress nearly a month into a fragile ceasefire. “The operation is over — Epic Fury — as the president notified Congress. We’re done with that stage of it,” Rubio told reporters at the White House.
The clashes in the Strait of Hormuz were not part of the original war, he said. “This is not an offensive operation; this is a defensive operation,” Rubio said. “And what that means is very simple — there’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first.” Israel and the United States attacked Iran on February 28, killing top leaders and destroying major military and economic sites but not forcing the collapse of the Islamic republic, which has responded with missile and drone attacks across the region.
Trump on April 8 declared a ceasefire with Iran that he has since extended even though negotiations with Tehran have been at a standstill. Rubio said the United States has “achieved the objectives” of the war. “These guys are facing, they are facing real, catastrophic destruction to their economy,” he said, while adding that Trump still preferred a negotiated deal with Iran.
– Danny KEMP
© 2024 AFP
