US President Donald Trump has announced that he is suspending, for a “short” period of time, “Project Freedom”<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Calling it “great progress” despite no direct negotiations, U.S. President Donald Trump announced yesterday (Tuesday) that he was suspending, for a “short” period of time, “Project Freedom”, as he dubbed a military operation to escort commercial ships that want to leave the Gulf by crossing the Sea Strait of Hormuz, to allow time to see “if an agreement can be finalized and signed”<\/b> with Iran.<\/p>\n
In light of “the tremendous military success we have had<\/b>” and “the great progress made toward a full and final agreement with Iranian representatives,” the Republican decided that “Project Freedom (….) will be suspended for a short period of time to see whether or not the agreement can be finalized and signed,”<\/b> he said via his Truth Social platform.<\/p>\n
He clarified, however, that the blockade of Iranian ports – imposed since April 13 – was not being lifted, and noted that the “pause” in the operation followed “a request from Pakistan and other countries.”<\/b><\/p>\n
The operation, by which Washington meant to allow hundreds of ships blockaded in the Gulf to cross the Strait of Hormuz, began on Monday.<\/p>\n
U.S. diplomatic chief Marco Rubio<\/b> earlier assured that what he described as “phase” of the U.S. military’s “offensive” against Iran has “ended”. “The operation is over,” “we have passed that stage,” Mr Rubio told reporters at the White House, using the code name,“Epic Rage”.<\/b><\/p>\n
But General Dan Cain<\/b>, the head of the US National Defense Staff, warned that forces are “ready to resume major operations.”<\/p>\n
President Trump also threatened Tehran in the wake of exchanges of fire at sea and attacks on the UAE attributed to Iran. “They know what they should do (…) and what they should not do,”<\/b> the US president said, taking care to avoid accusing Iran of violating the ceasefire he declared on April 8.<\/p>\n
Since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz has been controlled by Iranian armed forces. The sea route is of strategic importance, as it is through it that a fifth of the hydrocarbons consumed globally are exported.<\/p>\n
Iranian diplomatic chief Abbas Araghchi<\/b> met today in the Chinese capital with his counterpart Wang Yi, with whom he was expected to discuss the war in the Middle East almost exclusively.<\/p>\n
The Iranian foreign minister’s trip came as an ex-postponed official visit planned by US President Donald Trump – on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 May – to China, considered an ally of Tehran and the country that imports the largest quantities of Iranian oil.<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio commented that he expected China to pressure Iran to lift its de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz: “I hope the Chinese will say (sic.to Mr. Araghchi) what he needs to hear,” that “what you are doing in the Strait is isolating you internationally.”<\/p>\n
China is particularly affected by the paralysis of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. More than half of all crude imports shipped by sea to Chinese ports originating in the Middle East pass through there, according to Kpler.<\/p>\n
It is, after all, the main importer of Iranian oil<\/b>. More than 80% of Iranian crude exports were destined for China before the war, according to the same analyst firm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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