US President Trump announced a temporary suspension of the ‘Project Freedom’ operation, a US military effort to facilitate the passage of third-country ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing significant progress in negotiations with Iran. Iran has responded to the suspension by stating it considers it a violation of the ceasefire, continuing tensions in the Strait. US Secretary of State Mako Rubio emphasized that the operation is a defensive one and that the US has already achieved its objectives in the conflict with Iran.