US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently disclosed that Pakistan had offered to mediate a peace agreement between the United States and Iran. According to Rubio, Pakistan's proposal stipulated that a deal could be achieved if the US ceased 'Project Freedom,' an operation initiated by former President Donald Trump to safeguard ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan's Diplomatic Initiative
Speaking to NBC News, Rubio explained that the US halted Project Freedom "at the request of Pakistan." He quoted Pakistani officials as saying, "if you guys stop Project Freedom, we think we can get to a deal." In pursuit of a diplomatic resolution, which President Trump reportedly preferred, the US agreed to the pause.
Project Freedom was originally announced by Donald Trump to rescue vessels in the critical shipping lane. Despite the initial agreement to pause the operation, the diplomatic efforts did not yield the desired outcome.
The Fate of Project Freedom and Peace Efforts
Earlier, Trump had indicated that Project Freedom would be stopped due to "great progress" towards a comprehensive agreement with Iran, even as the blockade of the strait continued. However, the situation quickly deteriorated. Just days after the project's cessation, Trump publicly rejected Iran's peace plan, deeming it "totally unacceptable" on Truth Social.
Conversely, Iran also dismissed the US's peace proposal, describing it as tantamount to surrender. In the wake of these rejections, Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran, stating that "the clock is ticking" and urging a better proposal to avoid "harder strikes."
Ongoing Diplomatic Challenges
Rubio further elaborated that despite the US decision to stop escorting ships and moving destroyers out of the Persian Gulf, Iranian forces subsequently attacked those vessels. He reiterated the administration's strong preference for a diplomatic solution, noting that Iran has been given "every opportunity" to reach one.
However, Rubio highlighted internal divisions within Iran as a significant impediment to obtaining viable counter-proposals. While acknowledging the difficulty in setting a timeline for a diplomatic breakthrough, he affirmed the US's commitment to achieving one. Rubio also emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, not sovereign Iranian territory, and suggested two paths to its reopening: either Iran's voluntary decision or international pressure imposing consequences for its actions.