President Trump announced a pause on the U.S. operation “Project Freedom” on Tuesday evening based on a request from Pakistan and other countries, but he added that the U.S. Navy blockade of ships in the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place.

The US president pauses the military operation to get ships through the Strait of Hormuz two days after he announced it.

Saudi leadership was blindsided by Trump's plan to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s “Project Freedom” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be back on in days after a previously secret spat with Gulf allies which halted the military operation was resolved.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the initial U.S. operation in Iran has concluded, distinguishing between that and the newer effort by the U.S. Navy to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.