US suspends escort of ships in the Strait of Hormuz amid talks with Iran

US President Donald Trump announced the temporary suspension of Operation Project Freedom, which involved escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. This decision was made after appeals from Pakistan and a number of other states interested in de-escalating the situation in the region.

Despite the suspension of escort of ships, the previously announced naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in force. Thus, Washington is trying to combine diplomatic efforts with maintaining military pressure, which should stimulate Tehran to finalize the negotiation process.

The American leader announced his decision on the social network Truth Social. In the post, he emphasized that this step was made possible due to the “impressive military success” of the campaign against Iran, as well as significant progress in reaching agreements with the Iranian side.

According to Trump, the parties agreed to temporarily suspend the implementation of the “Freedom Project” in order to assess the prospects for final agreement and signing a comprehensive agreement. At the same time, the blockade remains an instrument of influence that will not be lifted until concrete results are achieved in the negotiations.

The situation in the Persian Gulf remains tense. According to the International Maritime Organization, about 2 thousand vessels are currently blocked in the region. Up to 20 thousand sailors are on board, which creates serious humanitarian and logistical challenges.

Experts note that further developments will depend on the success of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran. If the parties manage to reach a final agreement, this could significantly affect the stability of global energy markets and the security of key sea routes. Otherwise, the region risks remaining a hotbed of heightened tension with unpredictable consequences for international trade.