Trump pauses Hormuz plan 50 hours after he announced it - what happened?

"I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait."According to the Baltic and International Maritime Council shipping association some 1,000 vessels with around 20,000 seafarers on board are currently stranded in the region.Getty ImagesTrump said the "humanitarian gesture" would start on "Monday morning Middle East time"."I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all," he added.Monday - Two ships reportedly pass through straitJust after midnight UK time on Monday, the US military's Central Command (Centcom) posted that its forces "will begin supporting Project Freedom, 4 May, to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz".Centcom said "Project Freedom" would involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, and 15,000 service personnel."Hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit", Hegseth said, while Caine added: "Merchant vessels have transited and we anticipate more to transit over the coming days."Neither offered an exact timeline for how long the project would last, but Hegseth said it was "focused in scope and temporary in duration".Getty ImagesDefence Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the press about "Project Freedom" at the Pentagon on Tuesday"Project Freedom is under way, commerce will be flowing, and America is once again leading with strength, clarity and purpose for the benefit of the entire world. Our will is unshakable," he added.Later that day, America's top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, spoke to reporters at the White House - saying the US was carrying out the operation as a "favour to the world" as it was "the only country that can project power in that part of the world the way we're doing now".Later on Tuesday - Trump pauses the projectJust hours after Hegseth and Rubio had spoken, Trump paused "Project Freedom".At 18:52 Washington time (23:52 BST) he posted on Truth Social saying the decision had been made by "mutual agreement" because there had been "great progress" towards a deal with Iran.