US President Donald Trump paused a US naval operation to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after pressure from Gulf allies, US media reported on Thursday.
NBC News, citing two US officials, reported that Saudi Arabia had barred the United States from using an air base and Saudi airspace to support the operation, known as "Project Freedom."
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Kuwait had also denied the US military access to its bases and airspace.
The restrictions came after senior US officials downplayed Iranian retaliation linked to the mission, the newspaper said, adding that the dispute marked the biggest rift in US-Saudi military ties in years.
Trump unexpectedly announced on Tuesday that the operation to protect shipping through the strategic waterway, which had been launched a day earlier, would be suspended "for a short period of time" to assess whether a deal with Iran could be reached.
He said the pause came at the request of Pakistan and other countries, and because of what he described as major US military successes.
According to the WSJ, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have since lifted their restrictions. In the case of Saudi Arabia, this followed several phone calls between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Trump administration was now considering restarting the operation, possibly as early as this week, the newspaper reported, citing Pentagon officials.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Since the start of hostilities, Iran has effectively halted shipping through the chokepoint through threats and attacks, while the US has imposed a naval blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports.
