PM Shehbaz thanks Trump’s decision to pause 'Project Freedom' in Strait of Hormuz
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: File
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump after Trump announced a pause in “Project Freedom”, an operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing “great progress” towards a comprehensive agreement with Iran as well as requests from Pakistan and other countries.
In a post on X, the prime minister thanked President Trump for his “courageous leadership and timely announcement”. PM Shehbaz said the development came in response to requests from Pakistan and “other brotherly countries”, particularly the "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and my dear brother Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman".
I am grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump's gracious response to the request made by Pakistan and other brotherly countries, particularly the…“The President’s gracious response… will go a long way towards advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation during this sensitive period,” he wrote.
The prime minister said that Pakistan remained “firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy”.
He further expressed hope that the “current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond”.
Hours before Trump's announcement, 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% 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...Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran." He wrote on Truth Social.
Read: Trump puts hold to 'Project Freedom', citing deal progress, request from Pakistan
Shortly after Trump's announcement, 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 by threatening to deploy mines, drones, missiles, and fast-attack craft. The United States has countered by blockading Iranian ports and mounting escorted transits for commercial vessels.
The US military said on Monday it had destroyed several Iranian small boats, as well as cruise missiles and drones.
On February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran, and Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets.
The war has been on hold since April 8, when Pakistan mediated a two-week ceasefire. Following the ceasefire, Pakistan hosted the highest-level US-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which ended in Islamabad last weekend without agreement, but the ceasefire was held.