Pakistan has once again stepped into the center of high-stakes diplomacy as US President Donald Trump a short while ago announced a pause in ‘Project Freedom’ in the Strait of Hormuz after Islamabad’s ongoing efforts to push Iran talks forward.
Trump said the US would temporarily halt the region-wide naval initiative launched just days earlier to escort ships through the strategically critical waterway of Hormuz while maintaining a blockade on Iran.
He said “great progress” had been made towards a final agreement with Tehran.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supply passes, has been at the center of escalating tensions after Iran effectively restricted shipping during the ongoing war. The US responded by launching Project Freedom, deploying naval forces to guide stranded vessels and counter Iran’s navy.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s role has been building behind the scenes for weeks. Islamabad had earlier urged Washington to delay escalation and give diplomacy a chance. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directly appealed to Trump to extend deadlines and support negotiations.
Pakistani officials also floated proposals to ease the blockade on Iran and facilitate talks.
So far, Pakistan has continued mediating contacts while parallel discussions with Iran have taken place in multiple channels.
The pause in Project Freedom is being seen as a confidence-building step t to de-escalate just enough to secure a deal without fully backing down militarily.
US officials continue to claim that the main combat phase of the campaign against Iran has already achieved its objectives. Iran denies any losses incurred so far.
