Media: Saudi airspace dispute forced Trump to halt Hormuz operation

US President Donald Trump abruptly paused “Project Freedom,” a US-led operation aimed at escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, after Saudi Arabia suspended permission for American military aircraft to use its airspace and bases for the mission, two US officials told NBC News.

Trump announced the operation on social media on Sunday, May 3, as a response to Iran’s blockade in the strategic waterway. The plan involved US military surveillance, firepower and personnel aboard vessels to help commercial ships safely transit the strait.

However, the announcement reportedly caught several Gulf allies off guard, particularly Saudi Arabia. US officials said Riyadh informed Washington it would not allow American aircraft to operate from Prince Sultan Airbase or fly through Saudi airspace in support of the operation.

A subsequent call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to resolve the dispute, forcing the White House to halt the operation in order to preserve broader US military access in the region.

“Because of geography, you need cooperation from regional partners to utilise their airspace along their borders,” one US official said.

A Saudi source said Trump and the crown prince “have been in touch regularly” and described Riyadh as “very supportive of the diplomatic efforts” led by Pakistan to broker a settlement between the United States and Iran.

The White House denied that allies had been blindsided, saying “regional allies were notified in advance.”

The US military had already begun escort operations. US Central Command said two US-flagged ships successfully passed through the strait under Project Freedom before the mission was suspended roughly 36 hours after it began.

Trump later said the operation would be “paused for a short period of time” to determine whether a diplomatic agreement to end the war could “be finalised and signed.”

The administration has continued to push for negotiations with Tehran. Trump said from the Oval Office that there had been “very good talks over the last 24 hours” and added, “They want to make a deal.”

But he also warned that if diplomacy fails, “we have to go back to bombing the hell out of them.”

By Tamilla Hasanova