US effort to open Hormuz 'paused', Trump says: Iran war updates
Michael LoriaThe U.S. operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was paused on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump said progress was being made on negotiations with Iran.
The pause came just two days into "Project Freedom," an effort launched Monday to move U.S. commercial vessels through the critical shipping channel. Military leaders said a few U.S. vessels safely passed through the strait in the operation. Meanwhile Iran restarted its attacks on commercial vessels and neighboring Gulf states.
"Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran," Trump said in a statement, "we have mutually agreed that . . . Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized."
Tehran had not commented publicly on the update as of Tuesday evening. Leaders in Pakistan, a key player in peace negotiations so far, also did not immediately comment.
The average price of a gallon of gas across the U.S. continued to climb, hitting $4.54 Wednesday morning, according to GasBuddy.
Top Iranian official heads to Beijing, ahead of Trump
Michael Loria
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi traveled Tuesday to Beijing, where he will meet with Chinese officials, Iranian state media reported.
According to the Tasnim News Agency, Araghchi is "scheduled to hold discussions and exchange views with his Chinese counterpart during this trip regarding bilateral relations and regional and international developments."
Araghchi is one of Iran’s most prominent officials. He earlier traveled to Pakistan for peace talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Beijing has been a key player in peace negotiations, helping broker the original ceasefire. But the country receives the vast majority of its oil from Iran and has signaled it is growing increasingly tired of the war’s disruptions to global trade. Trump is expected to travel to the country next weekend.