US President Donald Trump announced tonight (Wednesday) that Operation 'Project Freedom' in the Strait of Hormuz will be temporarily halted, to allow for a final agreement with Iran.
The president tweeted on his social media account Truth Social: "Based on the request of Pakistan and other countries, in light of the tremendous military success we have achieved during the campaign against Iran, and in addition, the fact that significant progress has been made towards a full and final agreement with Iranian representatives - we have mutually agreed that while the blockade will remain in full force, 'Project Freedom' - the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz - will be suspended for a short period of time, to see if the agreement can be completed and signed.".
Trump announced the operation earlier this week, explaining that it was a large-scale military-logistical move aimed at breaking the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation was intended to rescue dozens of merchant ships from various countries, which were stranded in the strategic waterway due to security tensions and widespread Iranian shelling.
A few hours before Trump's announcement of the suspension of the operation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the goal of the operation was "to rescue nearly 23,000 citizens from 87 different countries who are trapped and abandoned in the Persian Gulf by the Iranian regime.".
He added that the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is "not only criminal," but also "desperate and destructive," calling it "piracy.".
Rubio also declared to reporters: "Operation Epic Fury is over. We have achieved our objectives.".
The meaning of the statement: President Trump notified Congress of the end of the operation, thereby preventing a vote on continuing the fighting beyond 60 days as part of the operation, as required by law.
If another operation is launched, it will no longer be tied to the limit on 'Epic Fury'.
