Donald Trump announced a pause in his plan for the US to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, dubbed 'Project Freedom,' following backlash from allies, according to new reports.
Allies Push Back
The US president's announcement of 'Project Freedom' via Truth Social on Sunday shocked US allies in the Gulf, NBC News reported. A White House official told the outlet that 'regional allies were notified in advance.' However, Saudi Arabia then told the US it would not allow American servicemembers to fly aircraft from the Prince Sultan Airbase or fly through its airspace to support the plan, US officials told NBC News. Kuwait also blocked US base access in response to the surprise announcement, Drop Site reported.
Trump Cites Progress
Trump quickly announced the pause of 'Project Freedom' on Tuesday, citing 'great progress' with Iran towards a permanent peace deal. On Wednesday, Trump said the US had 'very good talks' with Iran in the last 24 hours. Iran said it was reviewing a US proposal to end the war and that it would 'convey its views to the Pakistani side,' according to The New York Times.
US president Donald Trump predicted on Wednesday night that the war in Iran would 'be over quickly' as his administration seeks a deal to end the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump reiterated Washington's long-standing position that 'we cannot allow them to have a nuclear weapon.' Tehran pushed back against mounting US pressure, saying negotiations must be based on 'good faith' rather than coercion.
Regional Tensions
Israel struck Beirut on Wednesday for the first time since last month's ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, targeting what it said was a commander from the group's elite Radwan force in the southern suburbs of the city. Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Israel Katz announced the operation in a joint statement.
Regional tensions deepened after reports emerged that Saudi Arabia refused to allow US servicemembers to fly aircraft from Prince Sultan Air Base or use Saudi airspace in support of the proposed US military plan. US officials told NBC News that Riyadh communicated its objections directly to Washington amid concerns over wider regional escalation. Kuwait also reportedly blocked US access to military facilities following the surprise announcement of 'Project Freedom,' according to Drop Site News.
