US President Donald Trump has reportedly suspended a planned American naval escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz after Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi authorities denied Washington access to key military bases and regional airspace needed to carry out the mission.

According to reports citing US officials, the sudden reversal followed a diplomatic dispute between Washington and Riyadh over what Trump had publicly branded “Project Freedom,” a proposed US-led operation intended to escort Western commercial vessels through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions with Iran.

The plan, first unveiled by Trump on social media, was described by the White House as a humanitarian and security initiative designed to guarantee safe passage for international shipping through one of the world’s most important energy corridors. The strait, located between Iran and Oman, handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments and remains one of the most geopolitically sensitive waterways on earth.

However, the operation reportedly unraveled almost immediately after Saudi Arabia reacted angrily to what officials viewed as a unilateral American announcement made without prior consultation with Gulf allies.

US officials familiar with the discussions told NBC News that Saudi leaders were frustrated that neither Riyadh nor other Gulf Cooperation Council states had been informed in advance about the mission. The announcement reportedly blindsided regional partners already concerned about being drawn deeper into a potential confrontation between the United States and Iran.

The disagreement intensified after Saudi Arabia informed Washington that US aircraft would not be allowed to launch from Prince Sultan Airbase, located southeast of Riyadh, or transit Saudi airspace in support of the operation.

The restrictions created........

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