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Trump suspends naval operation as Iran reviews US proposal
US President Donald Trump temporarily shelved Project Freedom, a short-lived mission to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, after claiming progress toward a potential agreement with Iran. The move briefly eased tensions in oil markets and fueled speculation of a diplomatic breakthrough.
Iran weighs one-page deal as US signals optimism
On Wednesday, Iran confirmed it was evaluating a new US proposal, with unnamed American officials telling media outlets the two sides were nearing a one-page memorandum to end hostilities in the Gulf. A source familiar with Pakistan-mediated talks told Reuters the agreement could be finalized "very soon."
The reported 14-point plan aims to halt fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lift sanctions, and address Iran's nuclear program. However, Axios reported skepticism among some US officials about whether Iran's fragmented leadership could approve such a deal.
Trump shifts tone, warns of intensified strikes
Hours after announcing the pause in Project Freedom on Tuesday, Trump reversed course, calling the prospect of an Iran deal a "big assumption." If negotiations fail, he warned, military strikes would resume "at a much higher level and intensity than before."
The threat followed remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who declared Operation Epic Fury-the American-led bombing campaign against Iran-over. Trump later struck a more conciliatory tone in a PBS interview, expressing cautious optimism while acknowledging past failed talks.
"I felt that way before with them. So we'll see what happens."
Donald Trump, in a PBS interview
Iran dismisses US terms as 'wish list'
Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, dismissed the reported 14-point plan as a US "wish list." On X, he wrote that Iran "has its finger on the trigger" unless Washington makes "necessary concessions."
Foreign policy analysts urged caution, noting the fragility of past negotiations. Grant Rumley, a former Middle East adviser to both the Biden and Trump administrations, told the BBC the administration's public rollout of Project Freedom-only to pause it abruptly-suggested confidence in a deal. But he warned that last-minute collapses had derailed talks before.
Experts question motives behind operation pause
Analysts offered competing explanations for Trump's decision to halt Project Freedom. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group suggested Iran's aggressive response-including attacks on ships and UAE targets-may have convinced Trump the operation "was not going to solve the problem."
Mick Mulroy, a former Pentagon official, questioned whether the pause stemmed from the memorandum or from logistical hurdles: "It's unclear if the pause was because of this one-page memorandum or because the 1,500 ships stuck behind the strait wouldn't transit even with the US security umbrella."
Shipping experts noted Project Freedom had minimal impact during its brief activation, with only a handful of vessels using the escorted corridor.
Nuclear deal complexities loom
Even if a one-page memorandum is signed, experts say resolving Iran's nuclear program would require lengthy technical negotiations. During the Obama administration, finalizing nuclear deal details took over 20 months.
Trump has repeatedly claimed a deal was imminent since a 7 April ceasefire. On 17 April, he told CBS Iran had "agreed to everything," including allowing the US to remove enriched uranium-a claim Tehran swiftly denied. On Wednesday, he maintained that Iran "wants to negotiate," but added, "We'll see whether or not they are agreeing."
