Aya Batraoui

But this incident in Kuwait marks the first time a Gulf Arab state says its forces clashed with Iranian forces on its soil.

Aya Batraoui, NPR News, Dubai.

This was so abrupt that a person briefed on the matter not authorized to speak to the media told NPR that even Israel did not know about Trump's intention to end Project Freedom and had actually been preparing for an escalation.

So what Trump says is he paused the operation because of what he calls great progress in reaching a final deal with Iran.

And there were calls from countries in the region to Trump as well.

In a post on X, Pakistan's prime minister, who's mediating between the U.S.

and Iran, thanked Trump for pausing this operation.

And he said that he and Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, had asked Trump to do just that and move toward reconciliation.

The operation called Project Freedom began Monday with the U.S.

Navy guiding just two U.S.

flag merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but not before several Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats were sunken.

Iran then fired at the U.S.

Navy and launched missiles at neighbor the United Arab Emirates, threatening a month-long ceasefire.

Defense Secretary Pete Hexa said on Tuesday the operation was, quote, a gift from the U.S.

to the world to secure commercial shipping.

But later that day, Trump declared the operation paused.

He cited, quote, great progress toward a final deal with Iran, but said a blockade on Iranian ports remains in place.

Ending that blockade is a key Iranian demand.

Aya Batraoui, NPR News, Dubai.

The operation called Project Freedom began Monday, but not before several Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats were sunken.