US President Donald Trump announced on May 6 that “Project Freedom,” the US-led escort mission protecting merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, would be paused “for a short period” while Washington pursues a potential agreement with Iran. He said the broader naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place even as escort operations are suspended to allow negotiations to move forward. Trump warned on his Truth Social platform that failure to secure a deal could prompt renewed and intensified military strikes on Iran, while saying that if an agreement is reached operations such as “Epic Fury” would end and the strait could reopen to all traffic, including Iranian vessels.
Unconfirmed reports from Axios, citing unnamed US officials, said negotiators were discussing a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding that would formally declare an end to the war and trigger a 30-day negotiation window during which Iran would begin to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The draft terms reportedly include a moratorium on uranium enrichment for at least 12 years, commitments to UN inspections and talks about relocating Iran’s uranium stockpile. DW and other outlets had not independently verified the Axios account; Reuters later reported a Pakistani source saying progress on a deal looked close.
Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, thanked the United States for pausing the escort operation and said Pakistan supported restraint and a diplomatic resolution. The White House said the pause was taken at Pakistan’s request.
China has been active behind the scenes. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Iran’s Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, calling for a comprehensive ceasefire, restoration of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and continued negotiations. Wang voiced appreciation for Iran’s stated commitment not to develop nuclear weapons while recognizing its right to peaceful nuclear energy. Iran’s delegation stressed it would accept only a fair, comprehensive agreement that protects Tehran’s interests. As a major buyer of Iranian oil, China’s diplomacy is a significant factor in any settlement and complicates Beijing’s balance with Washington ahead of an anticipated US visit to China.
The conflict has already had economic and logistical consequences. The American Automobile Association said US gasoline prices have risen roughly 50% since fighting began in February, driven by constrained flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about one-fifth of global crude. Analysts and outlets including DW warned that restricted tanker movements risk creating jet-fuel shortages that could severely disrupt air travel.
Security incidents continued despite the pause. French shipping company CMA CGM reported that its container ship San Antonio was attacked while transiting the strait, suffering damage and injuries to crew; some crew members were evacuated and treated. It was not immediately clear whether the vessel was part of the escort operation. Iran’s military denied claims it had launched recent attacks on the United Arab Emirates, dismissing such reports and warning against turning Emirati territory into a base for foreign forces.
Regional tensions have spilled into neighboring theatres. Israel issued urgent evacuation warnings for residents of multiple towns in southern Lebanon after reporting violations of a local truce by Hezbollah, raising concerns for civilians. US officials said offensive operations like Epic Fury had ceased and that US forces were conducting defensive actions to enforce the blockade; at least ten civilian sailors have reportedly died in fighting in the strait.
Diplomatic contacts extended beyond the region, with conversations between US and Russian officials highlighting how the Iran conflict has broadened geopolitical involvement and linked to other crises such as the war in Ukraine.
As talks reportedly advance, Washington and its partners face the twin tasks of preventing further military escalation and addressing the economic fallout from constrained oil shipping. Whether the temporary pause in Project Freedom creates enough space to produce a durable agreement remains uncertain; both Washington and Tehran confront domestic and strategic pressures that will shape any final deal.