US President Donald Trump has temporarily halted the controversial “Project Freedom” naval initiative just hours after a US-led escort operation was launched in the region. The decision comes amid growing signals that Washington may pivot toward diplomatic space with Tehran instead of immediate escalation. At the same time, Iran has reportedly restricted or shut down large-scale commercial traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering immediate disruption across global oil and cargo supply chains. The Strait, which connects the Persian Gulf to international waters, is responsible for a significant percentage of global energy transport. Before the disruption, nearly 138 vessels passed through the strait daily, according to maritime monitoring authorities. WATCH

Britain has deployed the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon toward West Asia as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate. The move comes as the UK and France discuss a possible multinational naval mission aimed at protecting global shipping routes through one of the world’s most critical trade corridors. France has already dispatched the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the region, while Iran has warned London and Paris that sending “extra-regional destroyers” could further escalate the crisis.