Pakistan has moved to the forefront of regional diplomacy after Donald Trump announced a temporary pause in “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz, citing Islamabad’s efforts to advance talks with Iran.
The United States had launched the naval operation days earlier to escort commercial vessels through the strategically vital waterway. While announcing the pause, Trump said the blockade on Iran would remain in place but noted that “significant progress” had been made toward a potential agreement with Tehran.
In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump said the decision was taken following requests from Pakistan and other countries, alongside developments in negotiations with Iranian representatives. The pause is intended to create space for a possible final agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route handling nearly one-fifth of the world’s supply, has seen rising tensions after Iran restricted shipping during the ongoing conflict. In response, the US deployed naval forces under Project Freedom to secure maritime movement and counter Iranian actions.
Pakistan has been actively involved behind the scenes, urging restraint and pushing for diplomatic engagement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reportedly appealed to Washington to allow more time for negotiations and avoid further escalation.
Officials in Islamabad have also proposed measures to ease tensions, including facilitating dialogue and suggesting adjustments to the blockade framework.
The pause in the operation is being viewed as a confidence-building step aimed at reducing tensions while keeping diplomatic momentum intact. It allows room for negotiations without a complete rollback of military measures.
US officials maintain that key objectives of their campaign have already been achieved, while Iran has rejected claims of any significant losses.
