Trump Pauses 'Project Freedom' – President Trump temporarily halted the U.S. military operation guiding commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, days after its launch. The pause, announced on Truth Social, follows requests from Pakistan and other nations, recent military successes, and "great progress" toward an Iran deal. Project Freedom had aimed to escort vessels stranded after Iran blocked the strait. The pause seeks diplomatic space, with Pakistan mediating a potential one-page memorandum on strait openness and nuclear issues. Reactions are mixed – supporters see pragmatic diplomacy; critics call it strategic incoherence. Markets eased oil prices on de-escalation hopes.