China urges Iran to pursue diplomacy and reopen Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran “will be over quickly,” as he pushed for a deal to resolve tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program, according to Reuters.

Speaking during a tele-rally for Georgia Republican governor candidate Burt Jones on Wednesday night, Trump said the US action was aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, adding: “It’ll be over quickly."

US President Donald Trump paused a planned operation to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Saudi Arabia restricted US military access to key bases and airspace, according to NBC News, citing US officials.

NBC reported that the operation, referred to as “Project Freedom,” was intended to support maritime transit in the strategic waterway, but was halted after Riyadh suspended US use of Prince Sultan Air Base and related air corridors.

The report said a call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not resolve the issue, prompting the pause as Washington sought to restore access.

A White House official said allies had been notified in advance, while Saudi and regional sources cited ongoing diplomatic coordination amid broader efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Persian Gulf.

US negotiators have revived a proposal involving the transfer of Iran’s highly enriched uranium in exchange for the release of around $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds and sanctions relief, according to WIRED.

The report said Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner initially advanced the framework with presidential approval, under which Iran would hand over its enriched uranium and agree to a 12–15 year moratorium on enrichment. However, the deal was later rejected by President Donald Trump over political concerns about the optics of releasing funds to Tehran, before the same framework re-emerged in renewed post-conflict discussions, WIRED reported.

US-sanctioned, cargo-empty tankers are continuing to arrive in Iran-linked shipping routes, according to maritime analytics group Tanker Trackers.

In a post on X, the group said a tanker identified as VINA/VALLEY (IMO 9157478), which it described as regularly involved in transporting Iranian LPG to Yemen, entered what it called a “blockade perimeter” while transmitting AIS signals.

It also said a larger Iranian oil tanker had arrived empty, adding that such movements “buy Tehran more time.”

The United States’ 2026 counterterrorism strategy identifies Iran as a leading state sponsor of terrorism and outlines sustained efforts to disrupt militant networks, financing channels and regional proxy groups, according to the document released on Wednesday.

The strategy also highlights the use of intelligence, law enforcement, cyber and, where necessary, kinetic tools against terrorist threats, while stressing cooperation with international partners and attention to maritime security risks in strategic waterways including the Strait of Hormuz.