Pakistan Mediates U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Amid New Strait Tensions as Trump Launches 'Project Freedom'

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a crucial phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on May 3, as Pakistan races to prevent the collapse of the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire amid new tensions triggered by President Donald Trump's announcement of "Project Freedom" - a U.S. naval operation to escort stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz .

The diplomatic engagement, confirmed by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, saw Araghchi express "appreciation for Pakistan's role and mediation efforts" between Washington and Tehran, while Dar "reaffirmed Pakistan's continued commitment to promoting constructive engagement" . The call comes at a critical juncture, as Iran has warned that any American interference in the Strait of Hormuz would constitute a "violation of the ceasefire" .

Pakistan's Central Role in Stalled Negotiations

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam reaffirmed on Sunday that Islamabad continues to serve as a "central mediator" in Iran's negotiations with the United States .

"Pakistan remains a mediator, and no decision has been made to alter this," the envoy said, adding that progress in talks depends on a shift in Washington's approach .

Ambassador Moghadam described Islamabad's efforts as "valuable" and central to current diplomatic outreach, revealing that Iran had conveyed a new 14-point negotiation plan to Washington via Pakistan - a plan that reportedly focuses exclusively on ending the war, with the nuclear issue deferred to a later phase of negotiations .

However, President Trump has publicly stated that he "can't imagine that the plan would be acceptable," casting doubt on the prospects of a breakthrough .

'Project Freedom': U.S. Naval Escort Mission Begins

On Sunday, President Trump announced the launch of "Project Freedom" - a U.S. naval operation scheduled to begin Monday morning (Middle East time) to escort commercial vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz .

Trump framed the initiative as a "humanitarian gesture" for ships whose crews may be running low on food and essential supplies, noting that "countries from all over the world... have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz" .

He added that the United States would "use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait," warning that if "this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully" .

Trump also claimed that "very positive discussions" were ongoing with Iran, expressing optimism that talks "could lead to something very positive for all" - though he did not provide details .

Iran Warns: U.S. Action Would Breach Ceasefire

Iran has issued a firm warning that any American interference in the Strait of Hormuz would be regarded as a violation of the fragile ceasefire that has been in place since April 8 .

Ibrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security commission, stated unequivocally:

"Any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf would not be managed by Trump's delusional posts!" 

The unified command of Iran's armed forces issued a separate statement explicitly threatening to attack any foreign military forces - particularly U.S. forces - that attempt to enter or approach the strait. "We have repeatedly stated that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is under the control of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and under all circumstances, any safe passage must be coordinated with the armed forces," the statement read .

Iranian parliament member Ali Nikzad further underscored Tehran's intention to maintain full control, stating that the "Strait of Hormuz will never return to pre-war state" and that ships associated with the U.S. and its allies would only be allowed through if they pay war reparations. He added that Israeli vessels "will under no circumstances" be allowed passage .

The Stalemate: 14-Point Plan vs. Nuclear Demands

The current diplomatic impasse centers on the scope of negotiations. Pakistan sources familiar with the mediation told Anadolu Ajansı that the U.S., in its response delivered to Iran through Islamabad, attached an agreement on Iran's nuclear program with a permanent ceasefire .

Iran's revised 14-point proposal had suggested transforming the existing ceasefire into a permanent end to the war while deferring the nuclear issue to a later stage of negotiations . However, the U.S. response reportedly insists on immediate resolution of nuclear concerns, creating a fundamental disagreement .

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stressed that Tehran's proposal "exclusively focused on ending the war, and nothing pertaining to the nuclear field's details exists in it" .

Fragile Ceasefire Hangs in the Balance

The ceasefire - brokered by Pakistan and announced on April 8 after six weeks of intense fighting - remains technically in effect, but its survival is increasingly uncertain .

Pakistan hosted the first round of direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran on April 11-12 in Islamabad, but those talks failed to produce an agreement to end the war . Trump later unilaterally extended the truce without setting a new deadline, following a request from Pakistan .

Key developments since the ceasefire:

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) maintained the security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz as "critical" due to ongoing regional military operations .

Pakistan's Unique Mediation Position

Despite the stalled negotiations, Pakistan has maintained "open channels of communication" with both Washington and Tehran - a diplomatic asset that few, if any, other nations possess .

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed that Pakistan has continued to uphold "sustained interaction" with both capitals in recent weeks, remaining "committed to regional stability and international peace, reflecting our preference for principled dialogue-oriented diplomacy" .

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also emphasized that diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in West Asia are "continuing consistently," stating: "Our efforts for peace continue consistently and will continue" .

In a separate demonstration of Pakistan's mediating role, the Foreign Office confirmed on Monday that 22 crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship 'MV Touska' have been evacuated to Pakistan by the United States as a "confidence-building measure" - with Islamabad facilitating the transfer of the Iranian crew back to Tehran .

The Humanitarian Crisis

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had devastating economic consequences. As of April 29, maritime intelligence firm AXSMarine reported that more than 900 commercial vessels were located in the Gulf region, many stranded and unable to exit .

President Trump described the situation as a humanitarian concern, noting that many ships are "running low on food and everything else necessary for large-scale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner" .

Iran's blockade of the strait has choked off major flows of oil, gas, and fertilizer to the world economy, while the United States has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports .

What Comes Next?

As "Project Freedom" begins and Iran threatens to treat it as a ceasefire violation, the risk of renewed conflict is significant. The United States has reportedly reinforced its presence in the region, with deployments including guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and approximately 15,000 military personnel assigned to maritime security operations .

President Trump has warned that any obstruction of the humanitarian escort mission would be met with a strong response, while Iranian officials have stressed that Tehran would not back down from its position regarding control of the strategic waterway .

European allies, including Germany, are also pressing for a resolution. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has demanded that the strait be reopened, while emphasizing support for a negotiated solution - but insisting that "Iran must completely and verifiably renounce nuclear weapons and immediately open the Strait of Hormuz" .

Pakistan, meanwhile, continues its diplomatic push. Deputy Prime Minister Dar has reaffirmed that "dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path toward peaceful resolution of issues and achieving lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond" .

Whether that path can be found before the ceasefire collapses entirely remains to be seen.