Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said Pakistani civilian and military leaders had urged the United States to avoid broadening military operations during sensitive diplomatic talks with Tehran.“As you know, Pakistan has been fantastic.

And their leaders have been fantastic, the field marshal and the prime minister, and they asked us not to do it during the negotiation,” Trump said when asked why the United States suspended “Project Freedom,” a naval mission intended to secure commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, in place since April 8, remained active despite what the U.S. military described as an Iranian attack on three American destroyers in the Gulf.The United States Central Command said American forces intercepted the attacks and launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian military targets.

Tehran, however, accused Washington of initiating the exchange.The confrontation marked the most serious challenge yet to the truce that halted weeks of conflict sparked by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets beginning Feb. 28.

Iran responded during the war with missile and drone attacks across the Middle East and by restricting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments.

The United States announced Project Freedom on May 4 to escort merchant vessels through the strait after attacks on commercial shipping, though the operation was later suspended.Trump said negotiations with Iran were progressing positively and reiterated Washington’s demand that Tehran abandon any pathway to nuclear weapons capability.

“We’re not going to give them the right to have a nuclear weapon. There’s zero chance,” Trump said.Esmail Baghaei said Tehran was reviewing messages and proposals relayed through Pakistan but had not yet responded formally to the United States.Iranian state media quoted Baghaei as saying the Islamic republic had “not yet reached a conclusion.”

Pakistan has emerged as a central intermediary in efforts to end the conflict. Direct U.S.-Iran talks hosted in Islamabad last month failed to produce a final agreement but established ongoing diplomatic channels between the two sides.

Ishaq Dar separately spoke by telephone on Thursday with Abbas Araghchi, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad hoped negotiations would produce a sustainable resolution supporting regional and international stability.

“We hope the parties will reach a peaceful and sustainable solution that will contribute not only to peace in our region but to international peace as well,” Andrabi said.

Pakistan also said it was coordinating with Singapore to facilitate the repatriation of 11 Pakistani and 20 Iranian seafarers aboard vessels seized by U.S. authorities near Singaporean waters.

Trump indicated the pause was intended to create diplomatic space for negotiations, signaling a possible shift toward a negotiated resolution in the strategically vital waterway, a key global oil transit route.

The decision comes amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Iran conflict, which has disrupted shipping flows and contributed to increased energy costs. Despite the pause in operational activity, the continued enforcement of the blockade suggests that pressure on the situation will be maintained while talks proceed.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply passes, has remained at the center of geopolitical and economic concerns, with recent incidents underscoring the risks to commercial shipping and global energy markets.

US officials have not disclosed details of the proposed agreement or the parties involved, and no timeline has been provided for the duration of the pause.

“Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to the Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be open to all,” Trump said on social media, warning that failure to accept the proposal would result in intensified military action.

The remarks come amid indications that Washington and Tehran are nearing a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict and initiating further negotiations, according to a source familiar with the talks.

The proposed framework would declare an end to the war and launch a 30-day negotiating period to finalize arrangements covering maritime transit through the strait, limits on Iran’s nuclear program, and the lifting of US sanctions.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be ensured once US threats subside, adding that new procedures were being implemented for shipping, though no details were provided.The developments follow Trump’s decision to pause “Project Freedom,” a US naval mission intended to escort vessels through the waterway, citing progress in negotiations.

The blockade, however, remains in force.The Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit route, has been largely closed to international shipping since late February, when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. The disruption has severely affected global energy flows and heightened geopolitical tensions.

According to sources, the draft memorandum could include provisions for Iran to halt nuclear enrichment activities, while the United States would lift sanctions and release frozen Iranian funds. Both sides would also gradually ease restrictions on shipping during the negotiation period.

The talks involve US envoys and Iranian officials engaging directly and through intermediaries, with Pakistan playing a mediating role, the source said.Despite the diplomatic progress, incidents in the strait have continued.

A French shipping company reported that one of its container vessels was struck in the waterway this week, with injured crew evacuated.Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking during a visit to China, said Tehran was seeking a “fair and comprehensive agreement” but did not directly address Trump’s latest comments.

The conflict, which began on February 28, has disrupted shipping and triggered repeated strikes on vessels and regional targets, underscoring the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz to global trade and energy markets.

“The ceasefire is not over,” Hegseth told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon, adding that U.S. forces would continue to defend maritime traffic while avoiding escalation. He said any determination of a ceasefire breach would rest with President Donald Trump.

The comments came as tensions mounted following reported exchanges of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces, underscoring the fragility of a truce reached after hostilities erupted earlier this year. The confrontation has centered on control and access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for global energy shipments.

Trump on Monday announced the launch of “Project Freedom,” a military operation aimed at protecting commercial vessels transiting the waterway. Hegseth described the initiative as “defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration,” with the sole objective of shielding shipping from what he termed Iranian aggression.

“Iran does not control the strait,” Hegseth said, adding that U.S. forces would not need to enter Iranian territorial waters or airspace to carry out the mission. “We’re not looking for a fight.”Iran had effectively disrupted traffic through the strait after the conflict began on February 28, following the involvement of U.S. and Israeli forces, raising concerns over global supply chains and energy markets.

Hegseth cautioned Tehran to act prudently, reiterating Washington’s position that it seeks to prevent escalation while maintaining freedom of navigation through one of the world’s most strategically sensitive maritime corridors.

The warning came as negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain stalled following a ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran that took effect on April 8, with control of the strait a central dispute.

Trump said the operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” would begin on Monday and described it as a humanitarian effort to assist crews stranded amid the disruption to shipping.

In a social media post, he said U.S. forces would work to guide vessels safely out of the waterway.In response, Iran’s military central command said any transit through the strait must be coordinated with Iranian forces, warning that “any foreign armed force especially the aggressive U.S. military” entering the area would be attacked, according to a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB and attributed to Major General Ali Abdollahi.

The standoff has disrupted global energy flows, with Iran effectively restricting the movement of oil, gas and fertilizer shipments through the strait, while the United States has imposed countermeasures targeting Iranian ports. Maritime data cited by AXSMarine indicated that more than 900 commercial vessels were in the Gulf as of April 29.

The United States Central Command said the escort mission would involve guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft, unmanned platforms and around 15,000 personnel.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said the maritime security threat level in the strait remains “critical” due to ongoing military activity, advising vessels to coordinate with Omani authorities and consider alternative routing.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis have so far yielded little progress. Iran has proposed a framework for negotiations, including reopening the strait and lifting blockades, while U.S. officials have indicated discussions are ongoing but have not detailed specific terms.European officials have urged a negotiated resolution, warning of the economic impact of prolonged disruption.

Emmanuel Macron called for a coordinated reopening of the strait, while Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul stressed the need for Iran to restore navigation and address nuclear concerns.Oil prices have risen sharply, trading about 50 percent above pre-conflict levels amid supply constraints linked to the strait, a key global energy corridor.