Iran Calls Out Trump’s “Project Freedom” as a Flop Amid Ongoing War Talks

When Donald Trump abruptly pulled the plug on “Project Freedom” just a day after announcing it, he spun the move as seizing a rare peace opportunity. The truth is far less flattering. According to reports from NBC News and Gulf commentators, Saudi Arabia refused to let the US military use its bases or airspace for the operation, which aimed to provide air cover for commercial shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Riyadh’s move came amid fears that Washington was launching military actions without consulting its regional allies or protecting them from retaliation.

This diplomatic fiasco left the bulk of commercial shipping stranded in the Gulf, with only two US-flagged ships managing to transit the strait. Far from the “complete and final agreement” Trump boasted about, the sudden policy reversal revealed a poorly coordinated plan doomed from the start.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf took to social media to mock the US effort, deriding it as “Operation Trust Me Bro failed.” The US has since tabled a 14-point proposal, essentially reiterating its stance on ending hostilities, reopening the strait, and negotiating over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions, and frozen assets. Tehran’s response has been cold, with officials dismissing the plan as a wish list and demanding that sanctions be lifted and frozen assets released before talks resume.

Frozen Iranian assets, estimated at $100 billion, remain a major sticking point. Trump and his Republican hawks are wary of repeating the optics of cash handouts to Iran, a key grievance used to attack the 2015 nuclear deal. Trump insists there is no deadline for Iran’s response, seemingly content to let tensions simmer while preparing for his upcoming China visit.

Iran’s mistrust runs deep, especially given the US negotiating team’s makeup. Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, both real estate developers with limited diplomatic experience and strong ties to Israel, have fueled Tehran’s suspicions of a pro-Israel agenda. The recent addition of Nick Stewart from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies—a staunch opponent of the 2015 nuclear deal—only hardens Iran’s stance.

The current Iranian regime is far more hardline and distrustful than in previous negotiations, hardened by past US and Israeli attacks during talks. As Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence official, notes, external pressure has only strengthened Iran’s most extreme factions, making the country less predictable and more dangerous.

Trump’s “Project Freedom” collapse is yet another example of his administration’s reckless foreign policy, driven more by political theatrics and distraction than genuine diplomacy. The consequences of this failure could deepen conflict in a volatile region, with no end to the war in sight.