Donald Trump abruptly announced a pause in the United States’ newly launched naval escort mission in the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after his administration had signalled a firm operational shift. In a social media post on Tuesday evening, Trump said the operation would be halted “for a short period of time,” pointing to what he described as “great progress” in negotiations with Iran.
The decision marked yet another sharp pivot in U.S. strategy during a conflict now entering its third month. Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had declared that active combat operations had concluded and that Washington’s focus had moved to safeguarding maritime traffic under a mission named “Project Freedom.”
“The operation is over: Epic Fury — as the president notified Congress — we’re done with that stage of it. We’re now onto this Project of Freedom,” Rubio said.
Despite the announcement, the escort initiative had barely begun to make an impact. Only three commercial vessels managed to pass through the strait under U.S. protection since the mission started on Monday — a stark drop from pre-war levels, when roughly 130 ships transited daily.
The pause adds to uncertainty surrounding a fragile cease-fire. The strait remains a focal point of tension, with Iran warning that ships may pass only with its approval, while the U.S. maintains a blockade preventing Iranian vessels from crossing. Trump underscored that aspect in his statement, asserting the blockade would “remain in full force and effect.”
Meanwhile, commercial shipping has nearly ground to a halt. Around 1,600 vessels and approximately 20,000 seafarers are stranded in or near the waterway, underscoring the scale of disruption to global trade.
Confusion also persists over what constitutes a violation of the cease-fire. Speaking to reporters, Trump suggested Iran was aware of the limits but declined to clarify them. “You’ll find out,” he said, “because I’ll let you know.”
As both Washington and Tehran continue to claim influence over the strait, the situation remains volatile, with regional spillovers adding to the instability.
UAE Comes Under Iranian Attacks for Second Consecutive Day: Ministry
The United Arab Emirates has reported coming under missile and drone attacks for a second straight day, intensifying tensions linked to the ongoing Iran conflict. According to the UAE’s Defence Ministry, the latest strikes followed an earlier incident in which at least three people were injured and a drone ignited a fire at a key oil facility in Fujairah.
However, Iran has strongly denied responsibility. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement rejecting the allegations outright.
“If any action had been taken, we would have announced it firmly and clearly. Therefore, the report of that country’s Ministry of Defense is absolutely denied and is devoid of any truth,” the IRGC statement said.
The reported attacks come against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has effectively asserted control by targeting or threatening vessels attempting to pass without its consent. This follows retaliatory measures after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets earlier this year.
The UAE has not yet disclosed the full extent of damage from the most recent attack, but the developments have heightened fears of a broader regional escalation. At the same time, conflicting narratives between Tehran and Abu Dhabi reflect the deepening information war accompanying the military standoff.
The crisis has already sent shockwaves through global energy markets. With roughly a fifth of the world’s energy exports flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, disruptions have pushed oil and gas prices to multi-year highs, amplifying concerns about economic fallout far beyond the region.
As tensions simmer and denials clash with on-ground claims, the situation underscores how fragile the cease-fire remains — and how quickly it could unravel into a wider conflict.
