US President Donald Trump almost immediately stopped Project Freedom's operation to help ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz due to the reaction of key Gulf ally Saudi Arabia, two US officials told NBC News.
The head of the White House warned about the temporary suspension of the operation on May 6 on the Truth Social social network. According to the decision, it was allegedly made taking into account the appeal of Pakistan and other countries, the “astonishing military successes” of the United States, as well as “significant progress towards a full and final agreement with representatives of Iran.”
According to the channel's sources, this happened after Riyadh prohibited the US military from using the Prince Sultan airbase or crossing Saudi airspace.
The announcement of Project Freedom came as a surprise to American allies in the Middle East, sources say. A telephone conversation between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud did not help resolve the issue, they note. As a result, the president was forced to suspend the operation 36 hours after it began.
A White House spokesman told reporters that “regional allies were notified in advance.”
The US Air Force hosts fighter jets, tankers and air defense systems at Prince Sultan Air Base. Saudi authorities have allowed the US army to use it to support the war against Iran and have also allowed aircraft based in neighboring countries to cross their skies, the TV channel adds.
