US President Donald Trump announced on May 6 that “Project Freedom” — the US-led effort to escort merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz — will be paused “for a short period” while Washington seeks to finalise a potential agreement with Iran. Trump said the naval blockade on Iranian ports would remain in place even as escort operations are suspended to allow talks to progress.
Trump reiterated a hard line on his Truth Social platform, warning that failure to reach an agreement could lead to renewed and intensified bombing of Iran. He also said that if a deal is reached, operations such as “Epic Fury” would end and the blockade would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen to all, including Iran.
Reports from Axios — citing unnamed US officials — said a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) was under discussion and that US negotiators expected an Iranian response within 48 hours. According to those reports, the MOU would declare an official end to the war and launch a 30-day negotiation period during which Iran would begin to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It reportedly includes a moratorium on uranium enrichment lasting at least 12 years, commitments to UN inspections, and discussion of options for relocating Iran’s uranium stockpile. DW could not independently verify the Axios account; Reuters later cited a Pakistani source saying progress was close.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for suspending Project Freedom, saying Pakistan supports restraint and a peaceful resolution through diplomacy. Trump said the decision to pause the escort mission was taken at Pakistan’s request.
China has been active diplomatically. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, calling for a comprehensive ceasefire, the return of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and continued negotiations. Wang said China appreciated Iran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons while recognising Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy. Araghchi said Tehran would only accept a fair and comprehensive agreement that safeguards its interests. China is a crucial buyer of Iranian oil and has urged restraint and negotiation.
The conflict has had broader economic and security impacts. The American Automobile Association reported US gasoline prices have risen about 50% since the conflict began in February, driven by constrained flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for roughly a fifth of global crude oil. DW noted concerns that a jet fuel shortage could significantly disrupt air travel if tanker movements through the strait remain restricted.
Security incidents continued amid the pause. French shipping company CMA CGM said its container ship San Antonio was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, sustaining damage and injuries to crew, some of whom were evacuated and treated. The attack’s circumstances and whether the vessel was part of Project Freedom were not immediately clear. Iran’s military denied launching recent attacks on the United Arab Emirates, dismissing such claims as unfounded and warning against turning Emirati territory into a base for foreign forces.
Regional tensions spilled into other theatres. Israel issued urgent evacuation warnings for residents of a dozen towns and villages in southern Lebanon, saying Hezbollah had violated a truce and civilians might be at risk. Separately, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said offensive operations against Iran — notably the operation dubbed Epic Fury — had ended and that US forces were now taking defensive actions in enforcing the blockade. Rubio also confirmed at least ten civilian sailors have died in the Strait of Hormuz fighting.
Diplomatic contacts included a phone call between Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who discussed relations between the United States and Russia in the context of the interlinked wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The talks underline how the Iran conflict has broadened geopolitical involvement.
Iran’s first high-level visit to China since the war began and Beijing’s public positions underscore China’s influential role in any settlement. Analysts note Beijing’s heavy reliance on Iranian oil purchases gives it leverage but also complicates its balancing act with Washington ahead of a scheduled Trump visit to China — which Beijing had not yet confirmed.
As talks reportedly advance, US officials and regional partners face the dual task of preventing further military escalation while addressing economic fallout from constrained oil shipping routes. Whether the pause in Project Freedom will open space for a durable agreement remains uncertain; Washington and Tehran both face domestic and strategic pressures that could shape any final deal.