President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has paused a U.S. effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz, saying he wants to allow time to finalize a deal with Iran.
Trump announced the decision in a social media post, saying the move came “on the request of Pakistan and other countries,” after what he called the United States’ “tremendous military success” against Iran and “great progress” toward a complete agreement with Iranian representatives.
2 View gallery
(Photo: AFP - SOURCE: UGC / UNKNOWN, REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak/Stringer, Oliver CONTRERAS/AFP)
He said the pause would be temporary and that the U.S. blockade of the strait would remain in place.
The announcement came as Israel prepared for the possibility of an immediate resumption of fighting, with the defense establishment on high alert and relevant reserve forces mobilized. Israeli officials said the readiness did not necessarily mean they assessed fighting would resume imminently.
Israeli assessments hold that Trump remains reluctant to reopen large-scale hostilities and prefers, for now, to rely on economic pressure on Tehran. Officials said Iran’s economy is under severe strain, with rising prices, business closures, layoffs and growing domestic pressure on the leadership.
U.S. officials were not surprised by Iran’s limited fire toward the United Arab Emirates and Oman, Israeli analysts said. Washington has assessed the attacks remained below the threshold for renewed major combat operations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. mission in the strait was separate from the war with Iran and aimed at protecting civilian maritime traffic. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would not fire unless fired upon first.
“The ceasefire is not over,” Hegseth said.
Still, U.S. forces have been reinforced in the region, and Israeli officials said the military remains prepared. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel was monitoring developments in the Persian Gulf closely and was “prepared to respond with force against any attempt to harm Israel.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. Officials in Abu Dhabi have signaled support for renewed U.S. strikes against Iran, Israeli officials said.
The crisis began after Iran moved to restrict passage through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes. Washington said its forces had opened a lane for civilian vessels, while Tehran insisted no vessel had crossed without its approval.
Iran denied firing toward the UAE and warned that any action from Emirati territory against Iranian islands, ports or coasts would be met with a “devastating response.”
Trump has continued to alternate between threats and signals that he is not rushing into another broad campaign.
“They know what to do and, more importantly, they know what not to do,” Trump said of Iran.
First published: 01:16, 05.06.26