The prime minister says the development came in response to requests from Pakistan and other countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: Archive
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 deal 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.” Prime Minister 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, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman”.
I thank President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and his timely announcement regarding the pause on Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump’s kind response to the request made by Pakistan and other brotherly countries, particularly the…
– Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 6, 2026
“The President’s gracious response… will go a long way toward promoting regional peace, stability and reconciliation during this sensitive period,” he wrote.
The prime minister said Pakistan remained “firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote moderation and peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.”
He further expressed hope that “the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that ensures lasting 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 Monday to escort stranded oil tankers out of the Gulf. The strait has been virtually closed since the conflict began, blocking around 20% of the world’s oil supply and causing a global energy crisis.
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other countries, the tremendous military success we have had during the campaign… Great progress has been made toward a full and final agreement with Iran’s representatives.” He wrote in Truth Social.
Read: Trump suspends ‘Project Freedom’, citing progress of the agreement and Pakistan’s request
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, U.S. crude oil futures fell $2.30 and broke below $100 a barrel, a closely watched threshold since the conflict sent energy prices soaring two months ago.
The White House did not immediately respond 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 Tuesday that Iran could not be allowed to control traffic through the strait.
Iran has effectively closed the strait by threatening to deploy mines, drones, missiles and fast attack craft. The United States has responded by blockading Iranian ports and setting up escorted transits for commercial ships.
The US military said on Monday it had destroyed several Iranian small boats, as well as cruise missiles and drones.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran, and Tehran retaliated with attacks against Israel and other countries in the region that host American assets.
The war has been on hold since April 8, when Pakistan brokered a two-week ceasefire. Following the ceasefire, Pakistan hosted the highest-level talks between the United States and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which ended in Islamabad last weekend without an agreement, but the ceasefire held.
