U.S. Closes Peshawar Consulate for Safety Reasons and Temporarily Halts Strait of Hormuz Ship Escorts

U.S. U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. This decision reflects a commitment to the safety of diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management, the State Department stated.

5 million annually. S. operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, will be paused for a short period of time.

Trump stated the pause is based on the request of Pakistan and other countries, due to tremendous military success during the campaign against Iran, and great progress toward a complete and final agreement with representatives of Iran. S. blockade will remain in full force and effect during the pause.

Project Freedom began on Monday, after Trump first announced it on Sunday in a post, promising the Navy would guide ships safely out of restricted waterways. The administration stated that two vessels have been helped through the Strait of Hormuz by Project Freedom. Hours before Trump's announcement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Project Freedom is the next phase of the war.

Rubio told reporters on May 05, 2026, at 4:16 PM EDT that Operation Epic Fury is now over. S. S.

U.S. will shoot down drones and missiles, but it is defensive in nature. S. is not attacking Iran.

U.S. Would put a new draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council to defend freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The draft resolution requires Iran to cease attacks, mining, and tolling, demands that Iran disclose the number and location of sea mines it has laid and cooperate with efforts to remove them, and supports the establishment of a humanitarian corridor.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar co-authored the draft resolution, which is expected to be put to a vote in the coming days.

U.S. put forward a similar resolution at the UNSC last month, which was vetoed by China and Russia. S. N. Mike Waltz described the new resolution as a narrower effort designed to win support from Asian countries.

Waltz expressed hope that if adopted, the resolution would embolden countries to step up efforts to protect the waterway. U.S. Navy destroyers are in the Persian Gulf west of the Strait of Hormuz, officials said.

Vessels were pictured anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on May 4, 2026. Rubio arrived to speak during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on May 5, 2026, in Washington. S.

-Israeli war against Iran. Karachi is Pakistan's most populous city on the country's southern coast. U.S. Consulate in Karachi, killing several people.

-Israeli strikes targeting military, government, and infrastructure sites in Iran. A two-week ceasefire was announced following the combat operations. -Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.

U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded one way or the other. -Iran situation.