[53248] Storm surrounding 'Project Liberty': US withdrawal in the Strait of Hormuz and mediation attempts

Tensions in the Gulf: US halts 'Project Liberty'

The security situation in the Persian Gulf remains explosive, as the US administration unexpectedly announced the halting of 'Project Liberty' – the military operation intended to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports from Associated Press, as published by آخرین خبر, administration officials expressed shock at President Donald Trump's decision, as no clear instructions were provided regarding the continuation of support for vessels in the region. It was reported that the move stemmed, among other things, from the refusal of regional countries, led by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, to allow the US to use their bases and airspace for the operation, as reported by خبرفوری جنگ🚨اخبارفوری امریکا فوری and اخبارفوری.

At the same time, Trump's claims that there had been "good contacts" with Iran in the last 24 hours caused much resonance. As reported by Iran International, Trump even hinted at a deal that includes the transfer of enriched uranium to the US. The Wall Street Journal detailed the terms of the US proposal, which include a demand for the dismantling of major nuclear sites (Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan) and a freeze on enrichment for 20 years, in exchange for partial relief of the maritime blockade.

On the other hand, officials in the Iranian government deny any involvement in harming merchant ships in the region. The Iranian embassy in Seoul rejected US accusations regarding the explosion of the South Korean cargo ship, as published by Iran International. Conversely, conservative Iranian media, such as روزنامه وطن امروز, presented the US withdrawal as a failure of American foreign policy, under the headline "Trump's Canal of Defeat."

In the European arena, العربیه فارسی reports that France has sent the aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" to the Red Sea as part of a multinational initiative aimed at securing shipping lanes, a step that indicates global concern over the continued blocking of the straits and its implications for the global economy. Sources in Israel, according to فارس بین‌الملل, noted that the reports of progress in negotiations between Tehran and Washington did not surprise the political echelon in Jerusalem.