US President Donald Trump’s attempt to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz came to nought. Unveiled to much fanfare on 3 May, ‘Project Freedom’ was dropped again on 5 May with few vessels making their way out through the chokepoint.
In an announcement on Truth Social, Mr Trump said that “based on the request of Pakistan and other countries,” the operation was being paused “to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.” There have been a number of such policy reversals throughout the conflict, where a fragile ceasefire is broadly holding. With Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz in its third month, global shortages of oil, gas and hydrocarbon byproducts are becoming increasingly severe (MEES, 8 May). (CONTINUED - 1088 WORDS)
