WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he expected Iran to respond soon to American proposals related to a ceasefire and ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said Washington was awaiting Tehran’s response to proposals presented through diplomatic channels and expressed hope that progress toward serious negotiations would follow.
He warned, however, that if talks failed to advance, the United States could revive “Project Freedom,” the military operation previously announced to secure shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Project Freedom is a good initiative, but it can also be carried out in different ways,” Trump said, adding that any renewed operation could take the form of “Project Freedom Plus,” which would include additional elements.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had not yet received a formal response from Iran to the latest proposals, but expected Tehran to reply soon.
Rubio expressed hope that Iran’s response would help move the process toward meaningful negotiations.
The comments come amid continued tensions in the Strait of Hormuz following months of confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran.
Trump had earlier said the US suspended “Project Freedom” at Pakistan’s request during negotiations aimed at preventing further escalation in the region.
