US Pauses Hormuz Military Push After 2 Days on Iran Deal Hopes

The US has paused a major military operation to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a dramatic reversal just two days after its launch led to direct clashes with Iran and threatened a fragile ceasefire in the region.

"Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries...and the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement...Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time," President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Tuesday.

The short-lived operation saw US guided-missile destroyers enter the Persian Gulf, sinking at least six Iranian boats and intercepting missiles. In response, Iran attacked multiple commercial vessels, including an Emirati-owned tanker, and fired on US warships, further rattling global energy markets where prices have soared since the strait's closure on February 28.

The sudden pause injects fresh uncertainty into the standoff over the waterway, which handles a fifth of the world's oil supply. While the White House is framing the move as a step toward de-escalation, the recent exchange of fire shows the high risk of miscalculation that could plunge the region back into full-scale conflict and cause a severe global economic shock.

A 48-Hour Operation

Dubbed "Project Freedom," the US initiative was framed as a humanitarian mission to free an estimated 22,500 mariners on 1,550 vessels trapped in the Gulf. US Central Command said it had deployed guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members to create a defensive shield for commercial transit.

During the operation, at least 11 commercial vessels successfully passed through the strait, a significant increase from the two that passed on Monday but still just 18% of pre-war traffic levels, according to open-source tracking data. Maersk confirmed one of its ships was able to exit the Gulf under US military accompaniment.

The mission turned kinetic almost immediately. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has effectively controlled the waterway, fired on both US warships and commercial ships. A suspected strike hit a South Korean cargo vessel, and the UAE reported a tanker affiliated with its state-owned oil company was targeted by drones. US forces responded by sinking at least six small Iranian boats that were targeting civilian vessels.

Ceasefire Under Fire

The escalation occurred against the backdrop of a ceasefire agreement in place since April 8. Top US officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, maintained the truce was not over. "This is a separate and distinct project," Hegseth said at a briefing, arguing Iran's attacks—which he said numbered at least 10 against US forces since the pause began—were below the threshold for restarting major combat operations.

Iran, however, accuses the US of breaking the ceasefire with its continued blockade of Iranian ports. The IRGC issued a new map expanding its declared area of control in the strait, warning it would take "decisive action" against any ships deviating from its approved corridors.

The pause is a high-stakes gamble. Grant Rumley, a former White House adviser, said before the suspension that a more "kinetic" military option would likely be required to secure passage. "I think that the general consensus is that a resumption of hostilities is a question of when, not if," he said. The pause may provide a temporary off-ramp, but with both sides' red lines being tested, the path to a diplomatic agreement remains fraught with peril.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.