Trump Says Hormuz Effort Has Been Paused

President Trump says that he has paused the US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz to finalize an Iran deal. Trump announced the decision in a Truth Social post on Tuesday evening, saying he was pausing the effort for a short period to give space for US efforts to finalize a settlement with Iran to end the war, the AP reports.

• "Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump wrote.

The announcement came after military leaders and Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted on Tuesday that a ceasefire in the Middle East was still holding and that—while the conflict is not resolved—the initial major US military operation against Iran has concluded. Rubio told reporters at the White House that "Operation Epic Fury," the attack the US and Israel mounted on Iran on Feb. 28, "is concluded" because its objectives were met, the AP reports. Rubio said recent clashes with Iran related to US efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were "defensive in nature."

• "There's no shooting unless we're shot at first, OK? We're not attacking them. We're not," Rubio told reporters. "If they pose a threat to our forces, we'll shoot down drones, we'll shoot down missiles. But it's defensive in nature."
• "We're not cheering for an additional situation to occur," he said. "We would prefer the path of peace." Rubio said Iran must agree to Trump's demands on its nuclear program and reopen the strait, a waterway vital to global oil and gas supplies.