ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Pakistan had urged Washington not to take military action against Iran during ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, following renewed exchanges of fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Trump remarks come hours after the United States and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
Trump said a ceasefire with Iran remained in place despite an Iranian attack on three US destroyers. The US military said it had responded with strikes on Iranian military targets, while Tehran accused Washington of initiating the latest escalation.
The violence has raised concerns over the fragile truce in effect since April 8, which had halted weeks of US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Tehran has since retaliated across the Middle East and restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said US-Iran talks were “going well” and claimed Tehran was more eager to reach a peace deal. He also praised Pakistan’s leadership for its mediating role.
“As you know, Pakistan has been fantastic… their leaders have been fantastic, the field marshal and the prime minister, and they asked us not to do it during the negotiation,” Trump said, referring to Islamabad’s request not to proceed with military action during talks.
He was responding to questions about why the US had paused its “Project Freedom” operation, launched on May 4 to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which was later suspended.
Iran has maintained effective control over the strategic waterway since the conflict escalated on February 28, while the US last month imposed counter-measures targeting Iranian ports.
On Thursday, Tehran said it was reviewing recent US proposals to end the war. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Pakistan had conveyed messages between the sides, but no final decision had been taken.
Iranian state media reported that no formal response had yet been given to Washington.
The US-Iran ceasefire has largely held since April 8, although earlier direct talks hosted by Pakistan failed to produce a breakthrough.
Trump reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, saying there was “zero chance” of acceptance and claiming Tehran had already agreed in principle.
Separately, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
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Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad expected an agreement “sooner rather than later,” adding that Pakistan hoped for a peaceful and sustainable resolution benefiting both regional and global stability.
He did not provide a specific timeline for a possible deal.
