Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump’s decision to reverse an earlier plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for escorted shipping followed internal pressure from a key Gulf ally, according to a report by NBC News citing unnamed officials.
The report said Trump’s announcement of “Project Freedom”, a US military effort intended to help commercial vessels transit the Gulf, initially surprised regional partners, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The sudden move reportedly created friction between Washington and Riyadh.
According to the report, Saudi Arabia informed the US that it would not allow American aircraft to operate from Prince Sultan Air Base or use Saudi airspace in support of the operation. A follow-up call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly failed to resolve the disagreement.
The standoff, NBC News reported, forced Washington to pause the initiative in order to preserve access to critical regional airspace and maintain cooperation with Gulf partners.
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Other Gulf states were also said to have been caught off guard by the announcement, with some diplomatic engagement taking place only after the operation had already begun. Despite the tensions, a Saudi source told NBC that Riyadh remained supportive of diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan to mediate between the US and Iran.
The developments come amid ongoing indirect negotiations between Washington and Iran, where discussions are reportedly focused on a preliminary framework to end the conflict and address issues related to nuclear activity and maritime access through the Gulf.
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Trump, meanwhile, has continued to suggest that a broader agreement may be close, saying recent talks had been “very good” and raising the possibility of a quick resolution. Iranian officials, however, have publicly dismissed parts of the reported proposals as unrealistic or politically driven.
