Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday publicly thanked President Donald Trump after the U.S. paused the naval operation known as “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X, Sharif praised Trump for what he called “courageous leadership and [a] timely announcement,” saying the decision — made in response to requests from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and “other brotherly countries” — would help advance regional peace, stability and reconciliation during a sensitive period. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to restraint, dialogue and diplomacy and expressed hope that the pause would build momentum toward a lasting agreement that secures durable peace for the region and beyond.
Ahead of an expected trip by President Trump to Beijing, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in China. According to a Xinhua readout, Araghchi said Iran trusts China and expects Beijing to play a positive role in promoting peace, ending conflict and supporting the creation of a new post-war regional framework for coordinating development and security. He argued that the political crisis could not be resolved by military means. Wang said China is willing to take a greater role in restoring peace to the Middle East, called for a complete cessation of hostilities and urged continued negotiations.
The U.S. State Department announced plans for the phased closure of the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar, shifting consular and diplomatic operations to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. The department framed the move as necessary to protect diplomatic personnel and to manage resources more efficiently; officials told Congress the consolidation should save roughly $7.5 million a year. The announcement follows an attack in March on the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, where Marine Security Guards opened fire on protesters attempting to storm the facility, killing several people.
President Trump said Tuesday that Project Freedom — the U.S. operation escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz — will be paused “for a short period of time” to see if an agreement can be reached with Iran. Trump said the pause was taken “based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries,” and he noted what he described as “tremendous Military Success” and progress toward a “Complete and Final Agreement.” U.S. officials say two vessels have been escorted through the strait under Project Freedom so far. Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had characterized Project Freedom, which began Monday, as the next phase of the war.
The developments mark a mix of diplomatic outreach and operational adjustments as regional and global actors seek to de-escalate tensions and explore negotiated solutions.