Truth about Strait of Hormuz control reveals as Trump suspends ‘project freedom’ escort mission after 48 hours
Iran has continued to go after what it called the US’ misrepresentation of true situation of the Strait of Hormuz, saying with proofs of video footages that, against the American claims, no vessel unauthorized by its naval guards at the strait ever passed through.
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday May 5, 2026 announced a temporary suspension of “Project Freedom,” the U.S.-led naval escort operation designed to protect commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, following growing regional tensions and ongoing diplomatic engagements involving Iran and several international actors.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the decision came after requests from Pakistan and other countries, as well as what he described as progress toward a possible agreement with Iranian representatives.
“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 wrote, adding that the U.S. naval blockade in the region would remain in place.
The announcement followed conflicting claims over the effectiveness of the mission. U.S. officials had earlier stated that American naval forces successfully escorted commercial vessels through the strategic waterway and retaliated against Iranian attacks, including the reported sinking of six Iranian small boats.
However, Iranian authorities rejected those claims, accusing Trump of misrepresenting developments in the Gulf. Tehran maintained that Iranian forces retained operational control in the Strait of Hormuz and said its naval units issued warning actions, including missile and drone launches, against foreign military vessels operating near Iranian waters.
Iranian officials also alleged that some commercial vessels navigating the area during the operation came under attack, though independent verification of the claims remains unclear.
The operation, launched earlier this week, was intended to restore confidence in maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of disruption linked to escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to be holding. He described Project Freedom as a defensive mission aimed at ensuring safe passage for commercial shipping and stressed that it was separate from “Operation Epic Fury,” which Secretary of State Marco Rubio later confirmed had concluded.
“This is not an offensive operation,” Rubio told reporters at the White House. “There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first.”
Rubio also warned Iran against further escalation in the region.
The U.S. mission involved several Navy destroyers, air and land-based military assets, and approximately 15,000 personnel under U.S. Central Command. According to Hegseth, two U.S. commercial vessels successfully transited the strait under American naval escort earlier Tuesday.
“They said they control the strait — they do not,” Hegseth said, adding that hundreds of ships from multiple countries were preparing to pass through the waterway.
Iran has continued to go after what it called the US’ misrepresentation of true situation of the Strait of Hormuz, saying with proofs of video footages that, against the American claims, no vessel unauthorized by its naval guards at the strait ever passed through.
Meanwhile, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 1,500 vessels carrying about 22,500 mariners remained stranded inside the Persian Gulf as of Tuesday morning.
Caine added that U.S. Central Command had established an enhanced security zone along the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz, protected by American naval, air and land forces, to help prevent further attacks on commercial shipping.
