President Donald Trump ordered a temporary suspension of Project Freedom, the US military's operation escorting stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz, at Pakistan's request to facilitate a final nuclear agreement with Iran while maintaining a full blockade of Iranian ports. Trump stated on Truth Social that "great progress" toward a complete deal justified the pause in naval escorts despite ongoing military pressure on Tehran.

The American commander-in-chief cited the "tremendous military success" of the campaign against Iran and requests from Pakistan and other nations as grounds for the temporary halt to escort operations. Rubio confirmed Washington's primary military operation against Iran, dubbed Op Epic Fury, had concluded while warning that Tehran must meet US demands on its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz for a lasting peace.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beijing for talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi as tensions persisted, with the UAE reporting a second day of missile and drone interceptions from Iran—a claim Tehran categorically denied. Rubio pressed Beijing to urge Tehran to release its "chokehold" on the strait, arguing China's export economy depends more than any other nation on unimpeded energy shipments through the waterway.

US military commanders stated forces remain ready to resume combat operations if ordered, despite Rubio's declaration that the initial campaign stage has ended. The secretary of state emphasized that the United States bears primary responsibility for Project Freedom given its unique power-projection capabilities, calling the escort mission a favor to the global shipping community whose vessels remain stranded in the contested strait.