President Trump said Tuesday he has paused Project Freedom — a U.S. effort announced over the weekend to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz — to see if the United States can strike a deal with Iran.

President Donald Trump said he would pause a US-led effort to help stranded ships exit the Strait of Hormuz to see if an agreement with Iran to end the war could be reached.

Trump said progress is being made toward a possible agreement with Iran while also warning of renewed military action if talks fail amid ongoing Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has said it is reviewing new U.S. proposals to end the war, as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens more bombing if no deal is reached

The president cited developments in negotiations as the reason for pausing "Project Freedom." Iran did not immediately confirm progress in talks.

Trump is again voicing optimism for a peace deal, saying the war will be "over quickly" and insisting it's going "unbelievably well."

An American fighter jet shot out the rudder of the tanker in the Gulf of Oman as it tried to breach the U.S. military's blockade of Iran's ports, U.S. Central Command said in a social media post.

President Trump threatened Iran on Wednesday with "higher level" military strikes if it doesn't accept a peace deal, but he says it's "too soon" for new direct talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan after reporting "great progress" in negotiations to end the war.