Trump Pauses 'Project Freedom' Strait of Hormuz Naval Operation Citing Iran Peace-Talks Progress; 14-Point Plan Under Review

President Trump announced on May 5, 2026 that he was suspending “Project Freedom” — the new U.S. military operation launched in early May to escort stranded vessels out of the Iran-blockaded Strait of Hormuz — citing “progress” in Pakistan-mediated negotiations toward an Iran peace agreement. Trump said he was reviewing a 14-point peace plan. The pause comes after a US-Iran ceasefire that took effect April 8 has held for nearly four weeks (last fire exchange April 7), but with Iran insisting that the continuing US naval blockade of Iranian ports — instituted April 13 — violates the truce. The pause does not end the blockade; it pauses only the active escort operation in the Strait.

The Hormuz crisis is now in its 66th day since the February 28, 2026 US-Israel air war on Iran began with the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The blockade has redirected or returned 33+ Iran-linked vessels and contributed to gasoline-price spikes across Europe and parts of Asia. The May 5 pause arrives concurrent with the FISA 45-day extension, the Comey re-indictment proceedings, and the Patel-removal politics — meaning the administration is simultaneously negotiating an Iran exit while losing its FBI Director’s institutional standing. See also 2026-04-28–us-naval-ship-boarding-iran-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-released and 2026-03-03–kash-patel-fires-fbi-iran-counterintelligence-unit.