US Pauses Hormuz Operation as Trump Seeks Iran Deal; Iran Vows to Ensure Safe Transit

The hindu and the-hindu report that Marco Rubio stated the US had completed its offensive operations against Iran, dubbed 'Operation Epic Fury', while dawn and france24 report that the operation was paused to see if a final agreement could be reached.

France24 and the-hindu report that the US paused the operation to see if a final agreement could be reached, while euronews and al-jazeera report that the pause was due to progress made on a peace deal with Iran.

Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says safe transit will be ensured with new procedures in place.

Kethevane Gorjestani gives us her analysis.

The United States will pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz barely a day after it began doing so, President Donald Trump said, citing a desire to reach a peace deal with Iran.

Trump said the decision had been taken following a request by Pakistan and other countries, but added that the blockade of Iranian ports will “remain in full force.”

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would briefly pause an operation to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing “great progress” toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran. Hours earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had outlined the effort that began on Monday to escort stranded tankers out of the Gulf. The strait has been virtually shut since the conflict began, blocking some 20 per cent of world oil supplies and igniting a global energy crisis. “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. There was no immediate reaction from Tehran, where it was early on Wednesday morning. Shortly after Trump’s post, US crude oil futures fell $2.30 and broke below $100 per barrel, a much-watched threshold since the conflict sent energy prices soaring two months ago. The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment on what progress had been made, or how long the pause would last. Rubio and other senior administration officials said earlier on Tuesday that Iran could not be allowed to control traffic through the strait. Iran has effectively sealed off the strait since the US-Israeli campaign began at the end of February. The US has countered by blockading Iranian ports and mounting escorted transits for commercial vessels. The US military escorts over the last day and a half — dubbed “Project Freedom” by Trump — drew Iranian attacks, threatening an already fragile ceasefire. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy warned of a “firm response” if ships deviated from its approved route through the strait, as the country’s chief negotiator said Tehran “had not even started yet,” following a spate of attacks in the crucial trade route. Rubio says main operation is over Rubio told reporters at the White House that the US had achieved its objectives in its military campaign, which was launched on February 28 alongside Israel. “Operation Epic Fury is concluded,” Rubio said. “We’re not cheering for an additional situation to occur.” “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.” Rubio said the United States has “achieved the objectives” of the war. “These guys are facing, they are facing real, catastrophic destruction to their economy,” he said, while adding that Trump still preferred a negotiated deal with Iran. One of Trump’s central objectives in launching military strikes against Iran was to ensure Tehran does not develop a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has denied seeking. However, Iran has not handed over more than 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier on Tuesday that the US had successfully secured a path through the waterway and that hundreds of commercial ships were lining up to pass through. The four-week-old truce with Iran was not over, he added. “Right now the ceasefire certainly holds, but we’re going to be watching very, very closely,” he said. General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iranian attacks against US forces fell “below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point”. Asked what Iran would need to do to violate the ceasefire, Trump said: “They know what not to do.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier that the United States has completed its offensive operations against Iran, which it dubbed “Operation Epic Fury”

Mr. Trump said on Truth Social that he was now pausing ‘Project Freedom’ after a request by mediator Pakistan and other countries, saying that “Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement” with Tehran

US President Donald Trump has said he is pausing the American operation to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz as negotiations with Iran continue. The move comes as US forces maintain a blockade of Iranian ports and tensions persist in the Gulf despite a fragile ceasefire. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

President Trump has halted 'Project Freedom,' a US military initiative to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing requests from Pakistan and progress toward a deal with Iran. This pause comes after the US declared the offensive phase of 'Operation Epic Fury' complete, emphasizing defensive actions in the region.

US President Donald Trump said 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.

US President Donald Trump said 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.

US president says Project Freedom paused to see whether an agreement with Iran can be finalised and signed.

U.S. mission to reopen Strait of Hormuz will be temporary, Hegseth says  The Washington Post