Hormuz escort paused: what Trump’s move means in 2026
What changed in the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (May 5) that the United States would halt its military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz after just one day. The decision, announced on Truth Social, was framed as part of an effort to reach an agreement with Iran to end the Middle East war. Trump said the pause was requested by mediator Pakistan and other countries. He also cited what he called “great progress” toward a “complete and final agreement” with Tehran.
Even as the escort operation was paused, Trump said the US blockade would remain “in full force and effect.” The Strait of Hormuz is described in the report as a narrow chokepoint to the Gulf. The strait has been “virtually shut” since the US and Israel attacked Iran, with the disruption affecting “20 per cent of world oil supplies” and pushing global energy prices higher.
What “Project Freedom” was meant to do
The ship-escort mission was dubbed “Project Freedom.” It began on Monday, according to the report, and aimed to help vessels leave the Strait of Hormuz. The report links the launch of the operation to Iran’s actions in the waterway after being attacked, saying Iran has seized control and effectively blocked most commercial shipping for weeks.
Trump later described the effort as a humanitarian measure, with the US starting escorts from Monday morning. But the turnaround came quickly. Trump’s announcement said the operation would be paused “for a short period of time” to see whether an agreement could be finalised and signed.
The blockade remains central to US pressure
While pausing escorts, Washington is maintaining a blockade of Iran’s ports. The report describes the blockade as a pressure tool intended to push Iran to make a deal to end the war that the United States and Israel launched on February 28.
Trump’s statement made the distinction explicit: the blockade continues even if the escort mission stops. The decision signals a tactical shift, not a full rollback of US measures in the region. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for further detail on the progress in negotiations mentioned in Trump’s post.
Rubio says “Epic Fury” offensive stage is over
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House that the US military campaign against Iran is “over.” He said the offensive operation, named “Operation Epic Fury,” had concluded and that the president had notified Congress. Rubio also described the Hormuz mission as defensive, saying there would be “no shooting unless we’re shot at first.”
Separately, Rubio said peace would require Iran to accept Trump’s demands on its nuclear program and agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He said the US would prefer “the path of peace.”
Diplomatic track: draft text, UN dynamics, and China’s role
Diplomats cited in the report said Washington hopes to close negotiations quickly, aiming to circulate a final draft by Friday and hold a vote early next week. But Russia and China were said to have a competing text under consideration. China’s UN mission said a draft was circulated “yesterday in the afternoon” and that Beijing was still assessing it.
On Wednesday, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi held talks with Iran’s foreign minister in Beijing, according to China’s official Xinhua News Agency. The report also notes that China is a key customer for Iranian oil, defying US sanctions.
Shipping conditions and Iran’s warnings in the strait
The report references new rules affecting maritime traffic, saying ships would be required to adjust operations and obtain permission before entering the waterway, citing Press TV. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned, in a statement carried by IRNA, that foreign armed forces, “especially the aggressive US army,” would be attacked if they intended to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States also imposed restrictions affecting ships traveling to and from Iranian ports after unsuccessful post-ceasefire negotiations with Tehran in Islamabad on April 11 and 12.
Market reaction: oil down, Asian stocks up
After Trump’s decision to pause the operation, oil prices fell and stock markets in Asia rose on Wednesday, as investors took comfort in the shift. The report ties the move directly to sentiment, noting that the strait’s disruption had driven global energy prices higher.
The broader backdrop is that the strait’s effective closure has constrained flows of major oil and gas supplies, as well as fertilizer and other petroleum products, and has “rattled the global economy.”
Key facts at a glance
Maritime coalition idea for a post-conflict setup
Washington circulated a proposal to partners for a new multinational maritime coalition, the Maritime Freedom Construct (MFC). The aim, according to the report, is to establish a post-conflict security architecture for the Middle East and reopen the strait once conditions stabilise.
This proposal sits alongside diplomatic and military steps described in the report, including UN-related discussions, regional mediation efforts, and the continued blockade.
Conclusion
Trump’s pause of “Project Freedom” marks a rapid shift from launching an escort mission to suspending it within a day, while keeping the blockade on Iranian ports in place. Rubio’s comments that “Epic Fury” is over underscore the administration’s effort to separate concluded offensive operations from ongoing pressure and negotiation. The next near-term milestones cited by diplomats include circulating a final draft by Friday and seeking a vote early next week, even as alternative texts remain under consideration.
