US Privately Warned Iran Before Launching 'Project Freedom' in Strait of Hormuz to Prevent Escalation
WASHINGTON — The United States privately communicated with Iran in advance of launching 'Project Freedom' in the Strait of Hormuz, urging Tehran not to interfere with the maritime operation, according to a report by Axios citing an informed US official.
The military initiative was designed to unblock the critical energy corridor and escort hundreds of commercial vessels stranded due to the ongoing West Asia conflict. By establishing a secure navigational channel, the US aimed to stabilise global energy markets and restore routine maritime traffic in one of the world’s most vital and volatile shipping choke points, which has seen severe disruptions in recent weeks.
Citing a US official and an informed source, the report noted that the confidential backchannel message was intended to mitigate the risk of unintended military escalation during a fragile ceasefire period. However, despite the advance American warning, Iranian forces reportedly proceeded to launch attacks targeting US Navy ships and allied commercial vessels. This aggressive posture was accompanied by a reported drone strike in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Following these kinetic incidents and subsequent signs of diplomatic progress, Washington opted to temporarily suspend the maritime operation on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump indicated the operational pause was meant to facilitate a potential diplomatic agreement. Commenting on the situation, Trump stated, "They know what to do, or what not to do more importantly," signalling a cautious approach to the developing talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that indirect negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, "are making progress." He simultaneously cautioned the US administration against being dragged back into a "quagmire by ill-wishers."
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the current American military posture in the region is strictly defensive, noting that the active military phase of the operation has effectively paused. "There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first," Rubio stated, urging Tehran to make a sensible choice and commit to negotiations. "We would prefer the path of peace. What the president would prefer is a deal."
The US administration has consistently maintained that Project Freedom operates entirely independently of its broader economic pressure campaign against Tehran, which continues to target Iranian revenue streams. Nevertheless, achieving the mission's core objective of restoring regular commercial shipping remains strategically challenging. If global maritime companies and insurers continue to face the persistent threat of disruption, higher premiums, or intimidation from Iranian naval forces in the Gulf, the normalisation of traffic through the strait will be severely delayed.
Our Final Thoughts
The temporary suspension of Project Freedom highlights a delicate diplomatic tightrope in the Gulf. While military de-escalation opens a narrow window for Pakistan-mediated negotiations, the actual success of the US operation hinges on restoring long-term confidence among global shipping insurers and operators. Until the Strait of Hormuz is demonstrably secure from drone and naval harassment, the global energy supply chain remains inherently vulnerable, regardless of short-term diplomatic pauses.