WASHINGTON D.C. - President Donald Trump has revealed that the suspension of 'Project Freedom' - the US naval operation to escort stranded merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz - came at the direct request of Pakistan's leadership, whom he described as "fantastic."
Speaking to reporters, Trump confirmed that the pause was not a result of Iranian military pressure or logistical failures, but a gesture of deference to Pakistan's ongoing mediation efforts between the United States and Iran.
"Pakistan has been fantastic. And their leaders have been fantastic. The field marshal and the prime minister," Trump said. "And they asked us not to do it. We'll go back to it if we have to."
Trump's public acknowledgment that the United States paused a major military operation at Pakistan's request underscores the remarkable elevation of Islamabad's global standing over the past year. Few nations - and certainly none in the developing world - can claim to have halted a US military initiative through diplomatic persuasion alone.
The president's specific mention of both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reflects the unified civilian-military front that has characterized Pakistan's foreign policy under the current leadership. Trump has previously called both men "very extraordinary men" and has repeatedly expressed "great respect" for Pakistan.
| Leader | Trump's Description |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif | "Fantastic" |
| Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir | "Fantastic" |
Pakistan's request to halt 'Project Freedom' is rooted in its broader strategy to achieve a diplomatic resolution to the US-Iran war through peaceful negotiations rather than military escalation.
Islamabad has been shuttling peace proposals between Washington and Tehran for weeks, most recently conveying a revised 14-point Iranian plan to US officials. Pakistan has also hosted the first direct talks between the two adversaries in 47 years, with delegations led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf meeting separately in Islamabad in April.
A naval confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz - which 'Project Freedom' risked provoking - would have derailed these fragile diplomatic efforts. By asking the US to stand down, Pakistan bought more time for negotiators to find common ground.
Launched on May 4, 'Project Freedom' aimed to break Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint carrying 20 percent of global oil and a third of the world's fertilizer trade.
The operation successfully escorted two merchant vessels through the strait. However, Iranian forces responded with drone and missile attacks, including strikes targeting a US frigate and commercial assets near the UAE. The operation was suspended within 48 hours.
While the suspension was initially attributed to Iranian resistance and Saudi Arabia's denial of airbase access, Trump has now clarified that deference to Pakistan's mediation was the decisive factor.
Trump's statement carries significant implications:
For Pakistan: The US president's acknowledgment confirms that Pakistan has become indispensable to Washington's strategic calculus in the region. Islamabad is no longer just a mediator - it is a gatekeeper.
For the US: The decision to pause a military operation at another nation's request is rare, particularly for a superpower. It signals that Washington sees diplomacy, not escalation, as the path forward - and that it trusts Pakistan to lead that effort.
For Iran: Tehran can be assured that Pakistan is using its influence to prevent further escalation, potentially making Iran more willing to negotiate seriously.
For India: The contrast could not be starker. While Pakistan is being publicly praised and trusted by the US president, India finds itself diplomatically isolated, its vessels attacked in the same waters where the US now defers to Islamabad.
The stakes of the US-Iran standoff remain immense. Over 1,550 vessels and 22,500 mariners remain stranded in the Gulf region as the blockade continues. Global oil prices have spiked, and fertilizer costs are surging - threatening crop yields and food security worldwide.
Trump's decision to trust Pakistan's leadership keeps hope alive for a diplomatic breakthrough. But the president also left the door open for military action if negotiations fail.
"We'll go back to it if we have to," Trump warned.
As the US-Iran ceasefire hangs in the balance, the world's attention has turned to Islamabad. Pakistan's diplomats are shuttling between Tehran and Washington. Its military leadership is being praised by the US president. And its prime minister is coordinating with regional allies, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, to build consensus for peace.
The question now is whether Pakistan can convert this trust into a lasting agreement - one that reopens the Strait of Hormuz, stabilizes global energy markets, and ends a war that has already caused immense suffering.
For now, Trump's words offer both validation of Pakistan's rising global stature and a reminder of the weight of responsibility that comes with it.
