Web Desk/AFP

This live blog follows updates for Day 68 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 67, go <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-war-on-iran-day-67" style="color:#0073e6;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.<hr style="line-height: 2;"><ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Trump pauses Project Freedom briefly amid ongoing negotiations with Iran</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">US maintains blockade while warning of strong response if attacked</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Iran denies UAE attacks but warns ships against route deviations</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Regional powers urge diplomacy and reject force in Hormuz crisis</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tensions persist despite ceasefire, with military readiness on all sides.</li></ul><hr style="line-height: 2;"> Washington believes close to deal with Iran: AxiosPublished: May 6, 2026 | 10:28 GMT | by Web Desk&nbsp; Washington believes it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, US news outlet Axios reported Wednesday, citing two US officials. According to Axios, the two sides are close to agreeing on a &quot;one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.&quot; It said the deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and the United States agreeing to release billions of dollars of frozen Iranian funds. Washington is reportedly awaiting a response from Tehran on several key points in the next 48 hours. <hr> Israeli strike kills 4 in east Lebanon: health ministryPublished: May 6, 2026 | 10:18 GMT | by Web Desk&nbsp; Israeli strike kills 4 in east Lebanon: health ministry. <hr> Pakistan PM welcomes Project Freedom pause, hopes for regional stabilityPublished: May 6, 2026 | 09:08 GMT | by Web Desk&nbsp; Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed the United States&rsquo; decision to pause Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is a step toward regional peace and stability. In a post on X, the PM expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for what he described as &ldquo;courageous leadership&rdquo; and a timely announcement of the pause. &ldquo;Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy,&rdquo; the PM said. <hr> Iran launches new ship transit rules for Strait of HormuzPublished: May 6, 2026 | 08:20 GMT | by Web Desk&nbsp; Iran has rolled out a new mechanism for ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with the US, state-run Press TV reported Wednesday.&nbsp;Vessels will receive an email from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) outlining regulations and must comply with them to obtain a transit permit.&nbsp;Iran requires ships to use designated routes and secure authorization, as US naval forces bolster commercial shipping in the area, reported Press TV. <hr> Chinese, Iranian foreign ministers hold talks in BeijingPublished: May 6, 2026 | 04:42 GMT | by Web Desk&nbsp; Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held consultations with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, China&rsquo;s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Araghchi landed in China on Tuesday on a two-day official visit, Iran&rsquo;s official Tasnim News Agency reported. The visit comes ahead of US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s scheduled summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping from May 14-15 amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which remains blocked. This marks Araghchi&#39;s first in-person meeting with his Chinese counterpart since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. The two have held several phone calls during the conflict. <hr> Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Araghchi arrives in Beijing for talks with Chinese counterpartPublished: May 6, 2026 | 00:23 GMT | by Web Desk&nbsp; Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Beijing at the head of a diplomatic delegation from Tehran. During the visit, Araghchi is scheduled to discuss and exchange views with his Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi on bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments. The trip comes amid reports of progress in mediated talks between the US and Iran.

Middle East

Americas

US president says operations are being paused “for a short period of time” to see whether the deal can be finalized and signed; his Iranian counterpart says Tehran remains open to talks but will not yield to pressure; Pakistan’s prime minister says he hopes for a 'lasting agreement' to end the Iran war and thanked the US president for pausing Project Freedom.

Washington believes close to deal with Iran: Axios

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed the United States&rsquo; decision to pause Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is a step toward regional peace and stability. In a post on X, the PM expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for what he described as &ldquo;courageous leadership&rdquo; and a timely announcement of the pause. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2051937780352381197&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=a23dda0325938b3ad6c21cea4c55302a2773fddf&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div> </div>He said the decision came in response to requests from Pakistan and other countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, and acknowledged the role of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in supporting de-escalation efforts. &ldquo;Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy,&rdquo; the PM said. He also expressed hope that &ldquo;the current momentum would lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability in the region and beyond.&rdquo;

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during the federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on April 3, 2024. (Photo courtesy: PMO)

Foreign Affairs

Expresses gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his 'courageous leadership;' hopes the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Articles tagged with "Project Freedom"

Washington believes close to deal with Iran: Axios

Pakistan PM welcomes Project Freedom pause, hopes for regional stability

Washington believes close to deal with Iran: Axios