U.S. Trump Says "Operation Sentinel Temporarily Suspended, Progress Made on Final Deal With Iran"

[Financial News] Donald Trump, the U.S. president who had claimed that ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz would be freed under "Operation Sentinel," said just one day after launching the measure that it would be temporarily suspended. He said there had been "significant progress" in ceasefire talks with Iran and added that control of Iranian-linked vessels around the strait would continue.
Trump wrote on Truth Social on the 5th local time that he was pausing Operation Sentinel "to see whether a deal is finalized and signed" with Iran. Explaining why he halted the operation, he said he took into account "requests from Pakistan and other countries, which are mediating the ceasefire talks, the tremendous military gains we have made in operations against Iran, and the significant progress achieved toward a complete and final agreement with the Iranian delegation." He added that "the blockade of the strait remains fully in place" during the suspension.
Trump had announced on Truth Social on the 3rd that Operation Sentinel would be launched from the morning of the 4th to free ships trapped in the Persian Gulf. On the 5th, he described Operation Sentinel as "a movement for ships' passage through the Strait of Hormuz," but did not elaborate further.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources, reported that Operation Sentinel is a series of procedures designed to coordinate passage through the Strait of Hormuz among the parties involved, insurers, and maritime transport organizations. On the 3rd, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said it would deploy destroyers equipped with guided missiles, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, unmanned platforms, and 15,000 troops for the operation.
Iran, which had been observing a ceasefire with the United States since the 7th of last month, immediately pushed back. On the 4th, it resumed drone attacks on Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), near the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM claimed on the 4th that it had sunk six Iranian fast boats near the strait.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on X on the 5th that "yesterday, U.S. forces carried out dangerous actions that disrupted maritime order and security." It added, "The only safe route across the strait is the corridor previously announced by the Islamic Republic of Iran," warning that "ships that deviate to other routes will not be safe and will face decisive action from the IRGC Navy."
Later, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a White House press briefing on the 5th that Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on February 28, had ended after achieving its objectives. He said the United States is now "carrying out Operation Sentinel" and stressed that the measure is defensive in nature.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian mentioned dialogue with the United States during a phone call on the 5th with Iraqi prime minister-designate Ali Alzaidi. According to the Iranian presidential office, Pezeshkian said during the call that Iran is ready to talk with the United States within the framework of international law, but will not accept coercion or force.

pjw@fnnews.com Reporter Park Jong-won Reporter