Project Freedom was meant to help restore the flow of oil from the region and the global economy's eventual return to normalcy by guiding stranded ships out of the Gulf through the largely closed waterway. But if during the "pause", global shipping firms and the insurance companies working with them are stymied by Iranian interference, it will be difficult for Trump to claim that objective has been achieved.

On the other hand, the administration may hope that freezing Project Freedom - which the Iranians strongly objected to - helps bring them to the negotiating table again.

Rubio's comments earlier in the day came after a spate of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz raised fears the ceasefire between the US and Iran was in jeopardy.

Tehran did not commented on Rubio's statement, but Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf earlier said: "We know well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America, while we are just getting started."

Ghalibaf, Iran's top negotiator in last month's talks with the US, said, "Shipping security and energy transit have been jeopardised by the US and its allies with the ceasefire violations and blockade. However, their evil acts will fail".

Late on Tuesday the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a verified source had told it that a cargo vessel has been struck "by an unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz. Further details were not immediately available.

Earlier in the day the UAE said its air defences were engaging missiles and drones from Iran for a second day in a row. On Monday it accused Iran of firing missiles and drones including a strike on an oil port in the emirate of Fujairah which is located outside the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "dangerous escalation".

Iran on Tuesday denied launching any attacks on the UAE, with a military spokesman saying that, "If such an action had been taken, we would have announced it firmly and clearly".

Operation Epic Fury began on 28 February when the US and Israel launched a wave of air strikes on Iran. Tehran responded by blocking the crucial waterway through which 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually passes.

In early April, the US and Iran announced a ceasefire under which Iran ended its drone and missile strikes on Gulf countries including the UAE, but few vessels have been able to transit the strait since then. The US also imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports.

On Monday, the US said it had attacked seven Iranian fast boats in the strait while Iran said it had fired warning shots at a US vessel. Both sides denied the respective claims. Two commercial ships reported attacks and one said it had successfully exited the strait under a US military escort, as part of Donald Trump's plan to unblock the strait.

Speaking at the White House, Rubio said that while Trump wanted a deal, "That is so far not the route that Iran has chosen" adding: "What that may lead to in the future is speculative."

He said US and Israeli attacks on Iran had caused "generational destruction to their economy" and the country's leaders should "check themselves before they wreck themselves in the direction that they're going".

Hegseth said the ceasefire with Iran was "not over".

"Right now the ceasefire certainly holds, but we're going to be watching very, very closely," Hegseth said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Caine said that while Iran had attacked US forces 10 times since a ceasefire began, these attacks were "below the threshold" of resuming fighting "at this point".

Trump was later asked by reporters what would constitute a breach of the ceasefire by Iran. "You'll find out because I'll let you know," he responded. He also said he believed a negotiated settlement with Iran to end the conflict was still possible.

TACO and NACHO on Cinco de Mayo!
Expect the Trump bots to get especially nasty and incoherent for the foreseeable future. It's bad enough when they have to justify something stupid he does (i.e. everything he does). It's another thing entirely when it's straight up humiliating like this.

Oh yeah, it's nacho night.

All he can do is lose. He can't even break even at this point. Everything he touches turns to shit.
I can handle lies and corruption from a national leader to a certain extent, but sheer weakness while making the country worse in every way is a bit much.

>>1512438
>"mutual agreement"
I wonder how many people are going to believe this lie

Did that last like a day or 2?

>>1512448
This whole operation literally could not succeed. The US cannot control who Iran attacks; only Iran could do that, so the only guarantees of safe passage can come from Iran. And no matter how much protection the US gives, the mere CHANCE of one of these tankers blowing up is (rightfully I might add) enough to scare them from even trying.

I kept telling youse that one of these days tRump would end up in a STRAIT jacket.

>>1512453
less than 48 hours

I now believe Trump doesn’t know what a “ceasefire” is

>>1512480
It mean "cease firing at us as we continue to blast you"

This can all be repaired by not holding elections ever again. The President reigns as long as he wants and appoints his own successor. This is how civilization advanced over the centuries.

This can all be repaired by holding midterm elections. An orange subhuman fails as much as it wants and points out its inferiority to the electorate and they politically eliminate him. This is how civilization advances in the 21st century.

!

>>1512438
So I can expect gas to be $2.19 tomorrow, then?

What in the hell?