President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he is pausing the U.S. effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz, in a bid to allow time for a deal to end the war with Iran, according to NPR. Trump stated the pause would last a short period to see whether an agreement with Tehran on ending the war in the Middle East could be finalized. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for further details on the progress in negotiations that Trump mentioned.

U.S. Military Operations and Iranian Threats

According to Al Jazeera, the U.S. military said it destroyed several Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as cruise missiles and drones. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported that its air defenses dealt with missile and drone attacks from Iran for a second day. Another commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz reportedly was hit by an “unknown projectile.” Iran’s Islamic Major Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a new map of the strait, with an expanded area of Iranian control, and warned vessels to stick to the corridors it has set or face a “decisive response.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. has completed its offensive operations against Iran, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” and said there is “no shooting unless we’re shot at first.” However, he emphasized that Iran must “pay a price” for its efforts to control the strait. “The Straits of Hormuz do not belong to Iran,” he said. “They don’t have a right to shut it down and blow up ships and lay mines.”

Regional Concerns and Ceasefire Proposals

According to MyJoyOnline, Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure. Trump’s announcement represented an abrupt turnaround from his extraordinary warning earlier in the day. Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif helped mediate the ceasefire.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a statement Tehran would cease counter-attacks and provide safe passage through the waterway if attacks against it stop. Sharif said in a post on X he had invited Iranian and U.S. delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday. Trump called the deal a “total and complete victory” and said it was a “big day for World Peace.”

Uncertainty Over a Lasting Resolution

According to 경향신문, as U.S. President Donald Trump said he has set no deadline for ceasefire talks and Iran has been seizing vessels in succession in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime tensions between the two countries are rising. The continuation of this instability has raised concerns that the impasse in ceasefire negotiations could drag on. In an interview with Fox News, President Trump said regarding a ceasefire and holding talks, “There is no time pressure.”

Trump continued, in response to a question about the timing of ending the war, “There is no fixed period,” and “People say I want to end this quickly because of the midterms, but that is not true.” He added, “(The administration) wants to get a good outcome for the American people.” While the remarks by President Trump heightened uncertainty about the timing of ceasefire talks, Iran moved to tighten control over the Strait of Hormuz.