President Trump announced a pause to Project Freedom, the short-lived U.S. mission to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, saying negotiators have made “great progress” toward what he called a “Complete and Final Agreement” to end the war with Iran. The pause, he said, was agreed to after requests from Pakistan and other countries and will be temporary while talks try to be finalized. Trump added that a broader U.S. blockade will remain in place.
Iran has not publicly responded to the announcement. The halt comes just one day after Project Freedom began and only hours after Pentagon officials hailed the operation as successful. The operation had prompted Iran to carry out its first attacks in weeks on ships in the strait and on Gulf allies, raising regional tensions.
Pakistan, which has been mediating between Washington and Tehran, welcomed the pause. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the temporary stop “will go a long way towards advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation” and expressed hope that current momentum will produce a lasting agreement.
U.S. and allied officials presented Project Freedom as intended to protect commercial navigation through the vital energy corridor. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 1,500 vessels with roughly 22,500 mariners remain trapped inside the Persian Gulf, underscoring the urgency of restoring secure passage.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Operation Epic Fury, the prior military phase, has concluded and called Project Freedom the new phase. Rubio accused Iran of threatening the global economy by menacing ships, laying mines, and imposing what he described as “illegal tolls” on traffic through the strait.
On the diplomatic front, the U.S. and Gulf partners submitted a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would threaten sanctions or other measures if Iran does not stop attacks on shipping, disclose mine locations, and take part in opening humanitarian corridors for essential goods. An earlier, narrower resolution had been vetoed by China and Russia before a temporary ceasefire that began in early April.
China’s foreign minister told Iran’s deputy foreign minister Beijing is “deeply distressed” by the war and urged an urgent comprehensive ceasefire. Iranian officials, after talks in Beijing, said Tehran will accept only “a fair and comprehensive agreement” and will defend its legitimate rights during negotiations.
Iranian state media suggested future governance of the Strait of Hormuz could reflect a new balance of power and security arrangements, noting Tehran and neighboring Oman may play central roles in any future maritime framework. Iran has repeatedly tied the strait’s status to its national security.
Meanwhile, fighting persists elsewhere: Israel reported two soldiers wounded in a Hezbollah drone and rocket attack amid Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said it intercepted an aircraft before it crossed the border and launched new strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure. Hezbollah said its actions defended Lebanon and responded to alleged Israeli ceasefire violations. Those cross-border clashes complicate mediation, as Tehran insists any broader peace deal must address the Israel–Hezbollah front.
The situation remains fluid: the U.S. has paused the ship-escort mission to test whether negotiators can finalize a deal, Iran has yet to respond publicly, regional and global powers are pressing for ceasefire and talks, and ongoing military exchanges risk wider instability.