By Saqib S. Qureshi
Pakistan Steps In as Gulf Attacks, Oil Fears and Military Threats Shake the Middle East
WASHINGTON / TEHRAN: President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that America’s controversial military mission, “Project Freedom,” in the Strait of Hormuz has been temporarily paused after escalating clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces pushed the region toward a dangerous new crisis.
‘Project Freedom’ Halted Amid Rising Gulf Tensions
Trump confirmed the sudden pause in a Truth Social statement, saying the decision followed diplomatic requests from Pakistan and several other countries seeking to avoid a broader regional war.
“Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump stated.
The U.S.-led operation was launched to secure commercial shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran tightened pressure on international maritime traffic and global oil supplies.
Strait of Hormuz Becomes Global Military Flashpoint
The situation rapidly escalated after U.S. officials accused Iranian forces of targeting commercial and American-escorted vessels using drones, cruise missiles and fast attack boats in the Gulf region.
Washington claimed no U.S. warships were directly hit during the attacks, while American forces reportedly destroyed several Iranian boats during retaliatory actions.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was still technically active despite repeated military confrontations.
Iran Warns U.S. as ‘Project Freedom’ Faces Criticism
Iran strongly rejected U.S. claims and accused Washington of worsening instability across the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mocked the American mission by declaring, “Project Freedom is Project Deadlock,” while senior Iranian leaders warned Tehran had “not even begun yet.”
The crisis expanded further after the United Arab Emirates reported intercepting multiple ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones allegedly launched from Iran toward Gulf targets.
Pakistan Emerges as Key Diplomatic Mediator
As fears of a wider Middle East conflict intensified, Shehbaz Sharif called on both the United States and Iran to maintain the ceasefire and continue diplomatic negotiations.
Pakistan has reportedly played a significant behind-the-scenes role in encouraging de-escalation efforts between Washington and Tehran.
Oil Markets and Global Shipping Remain on Edge
Despite Trump’s decision to pause the operation, global shipping companies remain cautious about resuming normal transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices stayed above $100 per barrel as concerns over military escalation and maritime security continued to shake international energy markets.
Shipping industry leaders warned that uncertainty in the Gulf remains extremely dangerous and that commercial vessels could still face serious risks if tensions flare again.