Image Credits: US Navy US President Donald Trump said he is considering restarting “Project Freedom”, a maritime security initiative aimed at protecting shipping routes in the Middle East, though with a wider role than simply escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking during a phone interview with Fox News on Monday, Trump said discussions on the operation are still ongoing and no final decision has been made. Trump first introduced “Project Freedom” last week as a plan to provide military escorts for commercial and allied vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns over possible attacks and disruptions to shipping traffic. The initiative was later paused after diplomatic talks and peace negotiations with Tehran gained momentum. The temporary suspension was seen as an effort to avoid further escalation while negotiations continued. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy transit routes, carrying a major share of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. The conflict has increased concerns over the waterway after Iran reportedly restricted movement through the strait while allowing only limited shipping traffic and imposing tolls on vessels. Shipping activity through the waterway has dropped sharply compared with pre-war levels. Data from Kpler and LSEG reportedly showed that only three crude tankers exited the strait last week, with some vessels switching off tracking systems to reduce the risk of attack. A second Qatari LNG tanker was also attempting to transit the strait under an arrangement reportedly involving Iran and Pakistan. Brent crude futures rose more than 3% to above $104 per barrel as concerns over shipping disruptions and energy supplies intensified. Trump said tensions escalated further after he rejected Iran’s latest response to a US-backed proposal intended to end the conflict and reduce concerns surrounding Tehran’s nuclear programme. During remarks on Sunday, Trump reportedly described