The prime minister said the development was a response to demands from Pakistan and other countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: File
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump after he 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 demands from Pakistan and other countries.
In a message on X, the Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his “courageous leadership and timely announcement.” Prime Minister Shehbaz said the development was in response to the demands of 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 am grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause on Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump’s gracious response to the request made by Pakistan and other brotherly countries, especially the…
– Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 6, 2026
“The President’s kind response… will go a long way in advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation during this sensitive time,” he wrote.
The prime minister said Pakistan remains “firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.”
He further expressed hope that “the current dynamic will lead to a lasting agreement that will ensure lasting peace and stability for the region and beyond.”
Hours before Trump’s announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio “highlighted efforts Monday to escort stranded oil tankers out of the Gulf.” The strait has been virtually closed since the conflict began, blocking around 20% of global oil supplies and triggering a global energy crisis.
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other countries, the enormous military successes we achieved during the campaign… Great progress has been made towards a complete and final agreement with the representatives of Iran.” He has written about Truth Social.
Read: Trump suspends ‘Project Freedom,’ citing deal’s progress and Pakistan’s request
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, U.S. crude oil futures fell $2.30 and fell 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 progress or the length of the pause. Rubio and other senior administration officials said Tuesday that Iran cannot be allowed to control traffic across the strait.
Iran has effectively sealed off the strait by threatening to deploy mines, drones, missiles and rapid attack craft. The United States responded by blocking Iranian ports and organizing escorted transits for commercial ships.
The US military announced on Monday that it had destroyed several small Iranian 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 by striking Israel and other countries in the region harboring American assets.
The war has been suspended since April 8, when Pakistan negotiated a two-week ceasefire. After the ceasefire, Pakistan hosted the highest level US-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which ended in Islamabad last weekend without a deal, but the ceasefire was respected.
