President Donald Trump says the United States is pausing “Project Freedom,” a U.S. military effort to guide commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. Multiple outlets report Trump made the announcement after the operation began on Monday, with some descriptions noting it lasted only one day. Trump links the pause to ongoing efforts to finalize an agreement with Iran to end the Middle East war, saying “great progress” has been made toward a “complete and final agreement.”

Sources also report Trump frames the decision as responsive to requests from Pakistan and other countries, including a diplomatic element to reduce immediate escalation around the strait. While the U.S. pause applies to the escort/guidance operation, several accounts state that the blockade of Iran’s ports remains in force and effect as Washington continues to pressure Iran to make a deal.

Overall, the reports present the pause as temporary and conditional, intended to create space for negotiations while maintaining U.S. leverage through continued port blockading.