President Donald Trump said he is temporarily pausing “Project Freedom,” the U.S. operation aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after what he described as “great progress” in talks with Iran.
Trump, posting Tuesday night on Truth Social, framed the recent U.S.-Iran clash as a limited “skirmish” and said the pause would last a “short period” as negotiations move forward. He added that Tehran “knows what not to do.”
The announcement landed as U.S. officials insisted pressure on Iran remains intact, even with a partial shift in tempo.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports is still holding. He also said Iran’s attacks since the ceasefire was announced have stayed below the threshold that would trigger a resumption of major combat operations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Operation Epic Fury is over but signaled Washington is not easing the economic vise. Rubio said the U.S. will keep sanctions in place and warned Iran is still facing “generational destruction to their economy.”
Rubio also issued a warning to Tehran’s partners as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to meet his Chinese counterpart. From the White House, Rubio said any countries violating U.S. sanctions would face secondary sanctions.
The pause drew immediate praise from a key intermediary. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday he is “grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Sharif credited what he called Trump’s “gracious response” to requests from Pakistan and other regional players, including Saudi Arabia.
I am grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump’s gracious response to the request made by Pakistan and other brotherly countries, particularly the…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 6, 2026
“President Trump‘s gracious response to the request made by Pakistan and other brotherly countries, particularly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and my dear brother Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia H.R.H Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will go a long way towards advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation during this sensitive period,” Sharif wrote on X.
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Sharif said Pakistan will continue backing a diplomatic solution.
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. We are very hopeful that the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond,” he added.
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Trump’s move raises the stakes on the negotiations now being brokered through Middle East intermediaries, with Washington signaling it can modulate military operations while keeping economic pressure locked in.
For Iran, the message appears clear: talks may be advancing, but the sanctions regime is not going anywhere, and the U.S. is warning that third countries will pay a price if they help Tehran sidestep restrictions.
For now, the Strait of Hormuz remains the central pressure point, with the White House betting that a short pause in Project Freedom can help convert diplomatic “momentum” into a deal, without surrendering the leverage that brought Iran to the table.
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