US President Donald Trump on Friday said he may restart the now-suspended maritime security initiative “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz if a deal is not reached with Iran.Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “We’ll go a different route if everything doesn’t get signed up, buttoned up.”“I think Project Freedom is good, but I think we have other ways of doing it also. We may go back to Project Freedom if things don’t happen, but it’d be Project Freedom plus, meaning Project Freedom plus other things,” he added.The remarks came after Trump, in a post on Truth Social, announced that “Project Freedom” would be temporarily paused while the naval blockade of Iran’s ports remains in place.Trump said the decision was taken following requests from Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator to broker a peace deal between Washington and Tehran, and other countries. He further claimed the move followed significant military gains during the campaign against Iran and progress toward a potential agreement with Iranian representatives.The US President further noted that the pause was announced to “see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed” between Tehran and Washington.“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, 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 finalised and signed,” the post read.Trump had reportedly halted the project after Saudi Arabia refused to allow American aircraft involved in the initiative to use Prince Sultan Airbase southeast of Riyadh or fly through Saudi airspace, according to NBC News.US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces launched the operation on Monday to support merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the key international trade corridor under Project Freedom.According to a CENTCOM statement, the US military will support the operation through the deployment of guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members.
