President Trump suspends Project Freedom
WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - President Donald Trump announced he is putting Project Freedom on hold in the Strait of Hormuz to give time to try to reach a broad peace agreement with Iran.
The effort to move stalled commercial traffic through the vital shipping route led to a flare up in attacks, though the Trump Administration says the ceasefire still holds.
A pause in Project Freedom, citing progress toward a comprehensive peace deal with Iran, President Trump has put the U.S. military operation to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz on hold to "see whether or not the agreement can be finalized."
The president noted the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports stays after saying he hopes economic pressure will force Iran to make a deal.
"They should do the smart thing. And because we don't want to go in and kill people, really don't," Trump expressed.
Earlier this week, Project Freedom kicked up exchanges of fire as Iran targeted American ships passing through the strait and the U.S. forces protecting them.
Top military officials say they intercepted Iran's drones and blew up their small boats, but that it was all below the threshold for restarting major combat operations.
"Right now the ceasefire certainly holds but we're going to be watching very, very closely," said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Iran's top diplomat said peace talks were progressing through Pakistani mediators. The central sticking point has been the U.S. demanding that Iran abandon any nuclear ambition and give up its enriched uranium.
"We can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon," the president remarked.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored that while responding to frustrations over soaring gas prices since the war began.
"If Iran had a nuclear weapon and they decided to close the straits and make our gas prices like $9 a gallon or $8 a gallon, wouldn't be able to do anything about it, because they have a nuclear weapon," Secretary Rubio explained.
That as Iran renewed attacks against its neighbor and U.S. ally, the United Arab Emirates, risking more damage to oil infrastructure.
Rubio heads to Italy Wednesday and will meet with Pope Leo amid the president's sharp criticism of the first American pontiff who has vocally opposed the war with Iran.
The president now accusing the pope of being okay with Iran having a nuclear weapon.
He responded that the church has always opposed nuclear weapons, and that any criticism of him for proclaiming the gospel should be based in truth.
