NEED TO KNOW

• WSJ says Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on U.S. bases and airspace.
• Riyadh publicly rejects the WSJ report.
• The U.S. has set no timeline to restart Project Freedom.

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on U.S. military use of their bases and airspace, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, clearing a path for the Trump administration to restart Project Freedom.

The big picture: The two Gulf allies grounded the operation 36 hours after Trump announced it on social media. The reversal, if it holds, restores the defensive air umbrella the Pentagon needs to escort tankers through the strait.

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• The original suspension was first reported by NBC News Wednesday
• Saudi Arabia and Jordan are critical for aircraft basing; Kuwait for overflight; Oman for both
• Saudi officials told the WSJ they pulled access because senior U.S. officials downplayed Iranian attacks on the Gulf

Why it matters: Whether real or contested, the reversal is the second time in 96 hours that Gulf consent has determined what the U.S. military can do.

• Riyadh has publicly rejected the WSJ report, creating a sourcing gap between U.S. and Saudi accounts
• The pause held while Pakistani-mediated talks with Iran continued
• Trump warned Wednesday that if Iran rejects terms, "the bombing starts" at a "much higher level and intensity"
• Project Freedom was halted less than 48 hours after being announced

Driving the news: The administration is preparing to resume the naval escort mission, but has set no public timeline.

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• Two U.S.-flagged vessels completed transit before the pause, per CENTCOM
• U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz introduced a Security Council resolution Thursday condemning Iran's closure of the strait
• Iran's lead negotiator publicly mocked Washington for halting the operation

What they're saying: The dispute over what actually happened is now part of the story.

• Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary — "We prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded to defend our people, our ships, our aircraft, and this mission without hesitation."
• Mike Waltz, U.N. Ambassador — "We're giving the U.N. and the Security Council another chance to get back to basics, to uphold these basic principles."
• Saudi source to NBC News — "The problem with that premise is that things are happening quickly in real time."

Yes, but: WSJ cited Saudi officials alongside U.S. officials. Riyadh's public denial does not contradict that sourcing — it confirms it. Saudi officials are talking to Washington's press on background while the Saudi government denies the story on the record.

• Saudi Arabia is supporting Pakistani diplomacy to end the war, a posture that complicates a public endorsement of military escalation
• Saudi Arabia and the UAE are bypassing the strait via pipelines and have less direct stake in the escort mission

Between the lines: The Gulf veto demonstrated that the administration's "all the cards" framing has limits. The reported reversal does not erase that demonstration — it just means the cards moved. Project Freedom restarts as a permission structure, not a unilateral show of force.

• The reported Saudi rationale, that U.S. officials downplayed Iranian attacks on Gulf partners, names a trust gap that does not close in a 36-hour reversal
• Whether the restart actually happens this week will matter more than the announcement that it might

What's next:

• Iran's response to the U.S. proposal is expected via Pakistani mediators Thursday
• Trump's China trip next week is the unofficial deadline for clarity
• Security Council vote on the Waltz resolution faces likely opposition from China and Russia

If Riyadh denies what Washington is announcing, whose version of the alliance is the public watching?

Sources

This report was compiled using reporting from Fox News, The Times of Israel, NBC News, Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera, CNN, and investingLive.

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