Iran seeking ‘fair and comprehensive’ deal after Trump pauses ‘Project Freedom’

Iran on Wednesday (May 6) said that it would accept a peace deal only if it was a “fair and comprehensive” agreement. This comes after US President Donald Trump paused ‘Project Freedom’, a three-day-old naval mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The operation, announced on Sunday (May 3), had not been successful in resuming marine traffic through the strategic water. Meanwhile, the move provoked a fresh wave of Iranian strikes on ships in the strait and on targets in the Gulf nations.

During his visit to China on Wednesday, ​Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that Tehran was holding out for “a fair and comprehensive agreement”. He did not mention Trump’s latest remarks on the pause of the operation. The US president has maintained that the blockade will remain in full effect.

Trump warns of ‘intense’ bombing

Meanwhile, Trump threatened “intense” bombing if Iran refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president warned that if Tehran does not allow Hormuz to be open to all, “bombing” will start at a “much higher level” and more intense than it was before.

“Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” he wrote.

He added, “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

This comes after a US media outlet, Axios, reported that Washington and Tehran were close to agreeing on a memorandum of understanding to end the war. It added that both sides will set a framework for more detailed negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Pakistan PM ‘hopeful’ amid negotiations

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has positioned himself as a key mediator in the negotiations between Iran and the United States, said on Wednesday (May 6) that he was “hopeful” that the current momentum of talks would lead to peace in West Asia.

In a post on X, Sharif wrote, “I am grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.”

He added, “President Trump's gracious response ... will go a long way towards advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation during this sensitive period.”

“We are very hopeful that the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond,” he said.
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