Welcome back to the Daily Briefing.

This is Ezgi Akin, filling in for Gabrielle. 

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US pauses Hormuz escort mission with Trump citing progress on Iran talks

Trump said Washington's blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place as Tehran kept up its own closure of the vital waterway.

President Donald Trump said late Tuesday that the United States was temporarily pausing its newly launched naval escort mission in the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress toward a possible agreement to end the two-month war with Iran.

Washington launched the Project Freedom maritime operation on Monday in a bid to restore commercial shipping through the strategic waterway, where Iran has imposed a de facto blockade since the war began in February. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that vessels crossing the strait without Tehran’s approval “will be stopped by force.”

Trump said Project Freedom would be suspended while negotiations continue following requests from Pakistan, which has been mediating between Tehran and Washington.

Trump stopped short of elaborating on the progress made in the talks. However, the White House believes it is nearing a preliminary agreement with Iran to end the war and launch broader nuclear negotiations. Axios reported that Tehran is expected to respond to key proposals within 48 hours, citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the issue.

The United States’ blockade on Iranian ports will remain in place as Tehran maintains its own closure of the strait, according to Trump.

The announcement came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, Tehran’s highest-level diplomatic outreach to China since the war began. Iranian state media said Araghchi stressed Tehran would only accept a “fair and comprehensive agreement.”

Speaking ahead of the visit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to pressure Iran to end its blockade of the waterway. 

"I hope the Chinese tell [Araghchi] what he needs to be told, and that........

© Al Monitor