Publish Date: Wed, 06 May 2026 (11:36 IST)
Updated Date: Wed, 06 May 2026 (11:58 IST)
US President Donald Trump said "Project Freedom" will be paused while the US strives to finalize a deal with Iran.
"Project Freedom" is the US effort to escort stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
"Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
At the same time, Trump said the US naval blockade on Iranian ports will remain in effect.
Rubio: Offensive operations against Iran 'over'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that offensive operations against Iran have ended.
"The operation is over – Epic Fury – as the president notified Congress, we're done with that stage of it," he told reporters at the White House, insisting that the United States was now only taking defensive action in enforcing ?its blockade of Iranian ports.
"We are only responding ?if attacked first. This is a defensive operation," he said. "If no shots ?are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us, we're not firing shots, but if we're fired on we will respond."
Rubio also confirmed that ten civilian sailors have died during the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
"They're isolated, they're starving, they're vulnerable and at least 10 sailors have died as a result, civilian sailors," he said, without providing additional details.
