WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has ordered a pause in U.S. naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz as indirect talks with Iran over ending their conflict continue, White House officials said on Thursday.
The decision comes amid the exchange of new proposals between Washington and Tehran, aimed at reaching an initial agreement to halt hostilities, according to U.S. and Iranian officials. The pause is intended to support diplomatic efforts led in part by Pakistani mediators, they added.
Details of the operational pause remain limited. U.S. officials described it as a temporary de-escalation measure in the vital waterway, through which about one-fifth of global oil supplies pass. The move follows weeks of heightened U.S. naval presence in the area after disruptions to shipping earlier in the conflict.
Trump told reporters on Thursday that he had instructed the Pentagon to “hold back for now” while negotiations proceed. “We’re making progress, real progress, and I don’t want to do anything to mess it up,” he said, according to a pool report.
Iranian officials welcomed the reported pause, describing it as a positive signal, though they stressed that any lasting resolution must include broader guarantees. A senior Iranian diplomat, quoted by state media, said Tehran was reviewing the latest U.S. proposal delivered via intermediaries and would respond “in due course.”
The conflict escalated earlier in 2026 with direct exchanges involving U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and Iranian responses that disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Insurance premiums for tankers spiked and several vessels were diverted, contributing to volatility in global energy markets.
Pakistani officials have confirmed their role in shuttling proposals between the two sides. Earlier this week, Iran submitted a 14-point counterproposal following an initial U.S. framework, sources familiar with the talks said. Reports indicate discussions are focusing on a possible one-page memorandum of understanding that would formally end active hostilities and open pathways for further talks on Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.
U.S. Defense Department spokespeople confirmed that certain operations in the strait have been adjusted but declined to provide specifics on force posture or timelines for the pause. They emphasized that the U.S. military remains ready to respond to any threats to navigation or American interests.
Oil prices fell further on Thursday following news of the pause and continued diplomatic optimism, market participants said.
As of Thursday afternoon, no comprehensive agreement had been reached. Both sides indicated that further communications were expected in the coming days, with the current fragile ceasefire holding. The White House said Trump would receive updated briefings on the negotiations later in the day.
