Trump wrote today: "At the request of countries such as Pakistan, and given our significant success in military operations against Iran, along with substantial progress in negotiations with Iranian representatives toward a comprehensive, final agreement, both sides have jointly agreed to temporarily suspend the 'Freedom Initiative'—i.e., vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz—for a short period while maintaining the full enforcement of the blockade, in order to observe whether this agreement can ultimately be finalized and signed."
Trump's announcement to suspend the 'Freedom Initiative' was not merely a tactical military adjustment, but a strategic 'tactical pause' made by him on the eve of his visit to China, amid mounting domestic and international pressures. This is not the end of conflict, but rather a shift of the battleground from the smoke-filled Strait of Hormuz to diplomatic negotiation tables and global financial markets.
The launch of the 'Freedom Initiative' did not open up the strait—it instead triggered escalation, causing severe fluctuations in global oil prices and directly impacting the U.S. economy.
The operation backfired: launched on May 4, the 'Freedom Initiative' aimed to guide commercial vessels through the strait, but immediately provoked fierce retaliation from Iran. U.S. merchant vessels were attacked, prompting the U.S. military to destroy multiple Iranian speedboats and triggering missile strikes against the UAE. This made passage through the strait even more perilous, rather than improving conditions.
A second round of conflict pushed Brent crude prices up to nearly $108 per barrel. Domestic U.S. gasoline prices have soared to $4.5 per gallon, creating immense political pressure on Trump’s administration, especially with midterm elections approaching. Suspending the initiative sends a signal of de-escalation to the market, a necessary step to quickly stabilize oil prices and ease inflation expectations.
Currently, the Trump administration faces serious legal challenges. Suspending the operation is a clever way to circumvent legal risks.
Under the U.S. War Powers Act, the president cannot conduct military operations without congressional authorization for more than 60 days. The 'Epic Fury' military operation initiated by the Trump administration at the end of February reached its 60-day legal limit on May 1st.
At the same time as announcing the suspension of the 'Freedom Initiative', U.S. Secretary of State Rubio declared that the 'Epic Fury Operation' had ended. This recharacterization shifts the nature of the military action from 'offensive' to 'defensive,' skillfully bypassing the constraints of the War Powers Act, preserving flexibility for future actions, and alleviating political pressure from Congress.
In summary, Trump’s 'pause' order is a shrewd political maneuver. It acknowledges the failure of the 'Freedom Initiative' militarily, responds to public pressure over high oil prices economically, avoids legal risks related to congressional authorization, and creates favorable conditions for his upcoming visit to China diplomatically. This marks a new phase in U.S.-Iran rivalry characterized by 'fighting while negotiating,' with Trump aiming to transform this regional crisis into personal diplomatic achievements and domestic political capital.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864394572091392/
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