Trump pauses US Strait of Hormuz operation amid Iran deal push

US President Donald Trump has said the United States is pausing its military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz while talks continue on a possible agreement with Iran.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that Project Freedom would be halted for a short period after requests from Pakistan and other countries.

He said there had been "great progress" towards a "complete and final agreement" with representatives of Iran.

He said the blockade would remain in force during the pause.

The operation had begun only a day earlier, according to the supplied reports.

The decision matters because the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime chokepoint linking the Gulf, and tensions there have already affected civilian shipping.

The pause suggests Washington is still trying to combine pressure on Iran with a diplomatic track.

The reports say the US has maintained a blockade of Iran's ports to press Tehran into a deal aimed at ending the wider war.

They also say the confrontation around the strait followed attacks on vessels and the seizure of control in response to earlier strikes.

One report said the United States had sunk seven Iranian boats, while several civilian vessels came under attack, allegedly from Iran.

The same report said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the operation as defensive rather than offensive.

Rubio said the United States had completed its offensive operations against Iran, which it called Operation Epic Fury.

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