White House disputes Gulf countries’ restrictions led to pause of Project Freedom

The White House disputed reports that a lack of Gulf State support for Project Freedom, the administration’s plan to have the U.S. Navy guide commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, prompted President Donald Trump to pause the initiative.

Trump announced Project Freedom over the weekend but called it off by Tuesday evening, claiming that he did so because they have made “great progress” toward a deal, adding that it was also “based on the request of Pakistan and other Country.”

On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on the U.S. military’s use of their bases and airspace, and in turn, the president could seek to restart Project Freedom.

“There was never a restriction or a ban to begin with, that is fake news,” a White House official told the Washington Examiner.

During the brief time the U.S. Navy carried out Project Freedom, Iran