Trump pauses Project Freedom, Iran presses ahead on toll collection

President Trump: Operation Freedom will be “paused for a short period of time...” [White House photograph]

Citing “great progress” in negotiations with Iran, President Trump said yesterday that, while, the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports will continue, the Project Freedom initiative to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz will be “paused for a short period of time to see whether the Agreement can be finalized and signed.”

“The suspension of Project Freedom shortly after its launch is a surprise,” said Jakob Larsen, chief Safety & security officer “While a few ships made it out safely while Project Freedom was in place, it was clear that transits without coordination with Iran entailed significant risk.”

‘”Changes announced at short notice or changes that are surprising, such as the sudden suspension of Project Freedom, are a challenge for shipowners attempting to assess the risks and planning for leaving the Persian Gulf.

“Our members report that crews are coping mentally and practically with the situation. Shipowners are still able to buy provisions and fuel locally, although at elevated prices.”

IRAN SEEKS TOLL PAYMENT

Meantime multiple shipowners have reportedly received e-mails from a new Iranian entity called the ‘Persian Gulf Strait Authority’ giving instructions on how to pay tolls in Iranian rials to secure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has warned that anyone paying such tolls risks significant sanctions exposure.

COLLAPSE IN MARITIME VISIBILITY

In its most recent daily update on the situation, Windward AI says, “maritime conditions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman have deteriorated sharply following the launch of Project Freedom, with coordinated attacks on commercial shipping and UAE energy infrastructure, intensified GPS jamming, widespread AIS suppression, and increasing signs of coercive maritime control by Iran-linked actors.

“The clearest operational signal is the collapse in maritime visibility. Over the past 48 hours, vessels across Hormuz, Fujairah, and the Gulf of Oman have increasingly switched off AIS transmissions for security reasons, while GPS jamming has returned at high levels, particularly near Fujairah and Khor Fakkan. Approximately 470 vessels were impacted by GPS interference off Fujairah in the past 24 hours.

“At the same time, Windward Multi-Source Intelligence shows a predominantly stationary but heavily darkened maritime environment. SAR imagery over the Strait on May 5 detected 167 commercial-size vessels, of which 146 were dark. None showed clear wake evidence, indicating anchored or stalled commercial traffic rather than normal transit flows.

“The operational environment is also becoming increasingly militarized. IRGC VHF transit warnings, the likely deliberate targeting of HMM Namu, the detention of MSC Francesca following AIS suppression, and the deployment of 39 IRGC fast craft through the eastern Hormuz corridor collectively indicate growing pressure on commercial navigation.Maritime conditions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman have deteriorated sharply following the launch of Project Freedom, with coordinated attacks on commercial shipping and UAE energy infrastructure, intensified GPS jamming, widespread AIS suppression, and increasing signs of coercive maritime control by Iran-linked actors.”

“Taken together,” says Windward, “”the combination of kinetic strikes, electronic interference, dark fleet adaptation, and growing military pressure indicates that commercial shipping through Hormuz is entering its most operationally unstable phase.”