Iran war briefing: Trump pauses ‘Project Freedom’ after just two days

US President Donald Trump announced a pause to his ‘Freedom Project’ escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing ‘great progress’ toward an end to the war with Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the US’s policy of ‘maximum pressure’ and its expectation of Iran submitting to ‘unilateral demands.’ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing to discuss bilateral relations.