Trump puts ‘Project Freedom’ on hold, saying he hopes to finalise a deal with Iran

US president says he is pausing US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the strait of Hormuz but blockade remains Donald Trump announced he is pausing ‘Project Freedom’, the US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the strait of Hormuz, so he can finalise a deal with Iran, but added that his blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place. Trump’s abrupt change of plan was declared in a social media post, saying he was pausing the effort for “a short period” to give space for US efforts to finalise a settlement with Iran to end the war.