May 5 (UPI) — President Donald Trump announced a pause to Project Freedom on Tuesday night, less than 48 hours after the U.S. military began the operation to escort commercial and tanker vessels through the Iran-restricted shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said in the statement published to his Truth Social media platform that the pause was temporary and that Project Freedom could be resumed if a Pakistan-mediated agreement with Iran is not finalized.

He said the announcement was made at the request of Pakistan and other unnamed countries and because of “the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran.”

He also said the pause was “mutually agreed” to, but it was not clear to whom he was referring.

Iran has restricted access to shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz since being attacked by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28, causing gas prices to surge and energy crises to loom over some countries.

In response, the United States announced a blockade of Iran’s ports, cutting it off from sea-based trade, which the U.S. military says remains in force.

The two nations have agreed to a fragile cease-fire, which Iran accuses the United States of violating with its maritime actions.

Project Freedom was announced by Trump on Sunday with the mission to “free” the hundreds of vessels and their crews trapped in the Persian Gulf by the closure of the strait.

Trump’s announcement of the pause came hours after administration officials praised the operation as a success for the United States and a humanitarian gesture it was making to the world.

“As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white and blue dome over the strait,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Tuesday during a press conference.

“Once again, America is using its strength to lift up others.”

More than 1,550 commercial vessels and some 22,500 mariners were trapped by the strait’s closure, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said.

U.S. Central Command said two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels had transited the Strait of Hormuz. Hegseth highlighted their transit as proof the shipping lane was open.

“We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this fact. They said they control the strait. They do not,” he said.

“So, American ships led the way, commercial and military shouldering the initial risk from the front, as Americans always do. And right now, hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit.”

In a separate White House press conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Project Freedom was “a favor to the world” and that many nations have called on the United States to restore freedom of navigation to the Strait of Hormuz.

“And so President Trump, as he always does, stepped up and answered the calls for their help,” Rubio said.

“We’re doing it not only because we were asked, but because we’re the only ones who can.”

Iran has rejected the United States’ framing of the operation, instead calling it a “total failure” of a military response to a political crisis.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it shoed Iran is “fully in charge” of the strait.

“Project Freedom is Project Deadlock,” he said online.

Separately on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department said it was drafting a United Nations resolution to require Iran to stop blocking the strait.