US President Donald Trump has temporarily halted the controversial “Project Freedom” naval initiative just hours after a US-led escort operation was launched in the region. The decision comes amid growing signals that Washington may pivot toward diplomatic space with Tehran instead of immediate escalation. At the same time, Iran has reportedly restricted or shut down large-scale commercial traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering immediate disruption across global oil and cargo supply chains. The Strait, which connects the Persian Gulf to international waters, is responsible for a significant percentage of global energy transport. Before the disruption, nearly 138 vessels passed through the strait daily, according to maritime monitoring authorities. WATCH
