Oil prices ease as US pauses Project Freedom to seek deal with Iran

"Project Freedom, which Trump said was meant to ease the flow of energy through the channel, had tested the ceasefire between the sides."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"We would prefer the path of peace. What the president would prefer is a deal."

— Marco Rubio , Politician

"The operation is over. Epic Fury – as the president notified Congress – we’re done with that stage of it."

— Marco Rubio , Politician

"It is in China’s interest that Iran stop closing the strait."

— Marco Rubio , Politician

"We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this fact. They said they control the strait. They do not."

— Pete Hegseth , Executive

"The US will 'help free up' vessels stranded in the Gulf."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"Any 'American interference' in the strait would be considered a breach of their truce."

— Ebrahim Azizi , Politician

"The market is becoming accustomed to some of Trump’s posts about progress on Iran negotiations proving premature later on."

— Saul Kavonic , Academic

"Normalising the flow through the Strait of Hormuz will take more than what Project Freedom is offering."

— June Goh , Academic

"raised hopes of an agreement between the US and Iran after days of escalation."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"We would prefer the path of peace. What the president would prefer is a deal."

— Marco Rubio , Politician

"We know well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America, while we are just getting started."

— Mohammad Ghalibaf , Politician

"Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"the bombing starts"

— Donald Trump , Politician

"for a short period"

— Donald Trump , Politician

"Project Freedom would be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"We would prefer the path of peace. What the president would prefer is a deal."

— Marco Rubio , Politician

"Project Freedom would be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"We would prefer the path of peace. What the president would prefer is a deal."

— Marco Rubio , Politician

"We know well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America, while we are just getting started."

— Mohammad Ghalibaf , Politician

"Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"U.S. attacks against Iran are 'over' and that Washington had achieved its objectives."

— Marco Rubio , Politician

"raised hopes of an agreement between the US and Iran after days of escalation."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"Project Freedom will be paused for a short period to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"negotiations with Iran were making 'great progress' toward a final agreement."

— Donald Trump , Politician

"Due to the capital expenditure we are seeing from hyperscalers in the US, the earnings growth trajectory for sectors such as semiconductors, tech hardware, industrials and materials in Asia exceeds anything I have seen in a long time."

— Rushil Khanna , Academic

"A fragile ceasefire, a novel blockade, Friday’s NFP and diminishing odds of a US-Iran peace deal are all converging this week."

— Lukman Otunuga , Academic