Shafaqna Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his leadership and for announcing a temporary pause in “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on X, he said Trump’s response to requests from Pakistan and other countries—particularly the Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—would help advance regional peace, stability, and reconciliation during a sensitive time.
He added that Pakistan remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at restraint and resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.
The prime minister expressed hope that the current momentum would lead to a lasting agreement ensuring durable peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Earlier, Trump said on Tuesday (May 5) he was halting the US military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz after just one day, in a bid to reach a deal with Iran to end the Middle East war.
Trump’s operation, dubbed “Project Freedom”, to help vessels leave the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint to the Gulf where Iran has seized control in response to being attacked, began on Monday.
But the US leader said on Truth Social that he was now pausing it after a request by mediator Pakistan and other countries, saying that “great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement” with Tehran.
“We have mutually agreed that, while the blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom … will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed,” Trump said.
Washington is maintaining a blockade of Iran’s ports in a bid to pressure Iran to make a deal to end the war that the US and Israel launched on Feb 28.
Tensions had been soaring over the Hormuz operation, with the US saying it had sunk seven Iranian boats, and several civilian vessels coming under attack, allegedly from Iran.
The clashes in the Strait of Hormuz were not part of the original war, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier on Tuesday.
“This is not an offensive operation; this is a defensive operation,” Rubio said. “And what that means is very simple – there’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first.”
He added that the US has completed its offensive operations against Iran, which it named “Operation Epic Fury”.
Source: Dunya News
