(Bloomberg) – The Trump administration paused a U.S. military effort to help commercial ships transit the Strait of Hormuz, shelving the plan just hours after senior officials publicly outlined how the operation would work.
The proposed mission, known as Project Freedom, was designed to help reopen shipping through the vital waterway, where traffic has remained severely constrained since the conflict with Iran began. The plan called for U.S. naval and air assets to protect vessels moving through the strait, a route that normally carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas flows.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine had described the operation as a temporary, defensive effort supported by destroyers, aircraft, drones and other military assets. Officials said the U.S. had already helped two vessels exit Hormuz on Monday while repelling attacks from Iranian drones, missiles and fast boats.
But President Donald Trump later put the plan on hold, saying it would be paused for a short period to allow room for diplomacy. Trump said the decision came after warnings that the operation could trigger a broader escalation at a time when the administration is under pressure to end the conflict and ease the impact on energy markets.
The reversal highlights the continued uncertainty surrounding Hormuz, where commercial shipping remains limited and security risks elevated. Iran has maintained pressure on the waterway, and recent attacks included a strike on an oil terminal in Fujairah in the UAE.
Shipping groups warned that the threat to vessels had increased sharply, while major operators remained cautious about sending ships through the strait.
The pause means global oil and gas markets remain exposed to continued disruption, with no clear timeline for when normal flows through Hormuz might resume.
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