Overview
- President Donald Trump paused Project Freedom on Tuesday, citing Pakistan’s request and progress toward a deal, while confirming the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports stays in force.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the offensive phase, Operation Epic Fury, is over, as U.S. officials warned they would deliver a devastating response to any new threats to shipping.
- Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met China’s Wang Yi in Beijing, with China deepening its diplomatic role ahead of Trump’s expected visit to meet President Xi Jinping next week.
- U.S. escorts moved only a few ships before the pause as both sides reported recent exchanges of fire, and UKMTO said a cargo vessel was struck by a projectile in the strait, highlighting a fragile ceasefire.
- About 1,550 commercial vessels carrying roughly 22,500 mariners remain stuck near the Persian Gulf, and because the Strait of Hormuz handles about one fifth of seaborne oil, markets eased after the pause as U.S. crude briefly dipped below $100.