US Suspends ‘Project Freedom’ After Request from Pakistan as Iran Nuclear Talks Progress

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will temporarily suspend “Project Freedom”—the military operation to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz—citing a formal request from Pakistan and significant progress toward a final agreement with Iran .

In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that while the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports will “remain in full force and effect,” the ship movement operation will be paused for a short period to determine whether a comprehensive deal can be finalized and signed .

“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.”
— President Donald J. Trump, via Truth Social

🇵🇰 Pakistan’s Mediation Role Takes Center Stage

The pause marks a significant diplomatic victory for Pakistan, which has served as the primary mediator between Washington and Tehran since the war began on February 28 . Islamabad hosted the first round of US-Iran peace talks on April 11-12 and continues to shuttle proposals between the two sides .

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed on Tuesday that mediation efforts are ongoing, expressing hope that “significant progress” could be achieved . The Pakistan Army’s top brass, led by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has been actively involved in the diplomatic push, underscoring the importance of “collective restraint, responsibility, and respect for sovereignty” for regional stability .

Pakistani government sources indicated that Islamabad expects Tehran’s formal response to the latest US proposal—which reportedly demands inclusion of Iran’s nuclear program in the talks—by the end of this week . Iran’s 14-point counter-proposal, which sought to postpone nuclear negotiations until after the war ends, has already been rejected by Washington .

🛑 ‘Project Freedom’ Paused, But Blockade Remains

“Project Freedom” was launched on Monday as a US-led initiative to restore commercial shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely inaccessible since the outbreak of the war . The operation successfully escorted at least two merchant vessels through the waterway on Monday, though no ships made the journey on Tuesday .

The pause does not signal a complete de-escalation. The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains “in full force and effect,” Trump emphasized . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the fragile ceasefire with Iran “certainly holds” but stressed that the US is watching the situation “very, very closely” .

Hegseth characterized the US posture as defensive, telling reporters that American forces had already secured a navigational corridor through the strait. “We’re ensuring that we have control of that strait, which we do,” he said .

👀 Iran Maintains Defiant Posture

Despite the diplomatic progress, Tehran continues to project strength. Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, dismissed US claims of controlling the strait and warned of a “decisive response” to any violations of Iran’s declared maritime zones .

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a new map of the strait on Tuesday, expanding Iran’s declared area of control and warning vessels to stick to designated corridors . Iran also introduced a new email-based mechanism for vessel transit permissions, with an address linked to the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” .

“The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf would not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts,” senior Iranian lawmaker Ibrahim Azizi warned on social media .

🌍 Regional Context: UAE Under Attack

Tensions remain elevated amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone strikes against the United Arab Emirates. The UAE confirmed on Tuesday that it had been targeted by renewed Iranian attacks, with its air defenses intercepting multiple projectiles . Earlier in the day, Iran denied launching the strikes and accused the UAE of “collaboration with hostile parties” by hosting US military bases .

📉 Oil Market Reacts

Following Trump’s announcement, US crude prices dropped sharply, falling below the $100-per-barrel mark for the first time in weeks . The decline reflects market optimism that a diplomatic breakthrough could ease supply disruptions that have gripped global energy markets since the war began.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the primary phase of Washington’s military campaign, “Operation Epic Fury,” has concluded, describing the shift to “Project Freedom” as a defensive posture . Trump has formally notified Congress that hostilities have ended, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to bypass the 60-day War Powers Resolution deadline .

📋 Key Takeaways

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