Trump says US military operation guiding ships out of Hormuz to be paused

US President Donald Trump said in a social media post on Tuesday that the operation to guide ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, dubbed "Project Freedom" by the US, will be paused for a short period to see whether an agreement can be finalized and signed between Washington and Tehran, although the blockade will remain in force.

The decision is made "based on the request of Pakistan and other countries," and "the fact that great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement with representatives of Iran," he added.

This latest move by Trump echoes a similar shift in posture outlined earlier by other US officials. And here are the latest developments on the front.

Rubio says US military campaign against Iran is 'over'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday the US military campaign against Iran, which was jointly launched with Israel on February 28, is "over."

"The operation is over, Epic Fury, as the president notified Congress. We're done with that stage of it," Rubio said at a White House briefing.

The announcement is seen as the Trump administration's attempt to sidestep the War Powers Resolution, which requires the president to seek congressional authorization to continue military hostilities after 60 days.

Rubio repeated Trump's claim that the 1973 law that limits the president's war power "is 100% unconstitutional."

The Trump administration notified Congress last week that hostilities against Iran had been "terminated" as it reached a 60-day legal threshold.

However, Trump has not ruled out resuming military strikes amid stalled talks. Rubio said that Iran now has the opportunity to "make it clear" that they do not want a nuclear weapon, which he said is key to a peace deal with Washington.

Iran would "hold the world hostage" with a nuclear weapon, Rubio warned, accusing Tehran of trying to develop "long-range delivery missiles" and build underground facilities for uranium enrichment activity.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump refused to spell out what would constitute a violation of the fragile ceasefire with Iran, reiterating that Tehran wants a peace deal with Washington.

Iran ready for dialogue within international law framework

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone call on Tuesday with Iraqi Prime Minister-Designate Ali al-Zaidi, during which Pezeshkian said Iran is ready for dialogue within the framework of international law, but will not acquiesce to force.

Pezeshkian said that "our problem is that on the one hand, the United States is pursuing a policy of maximum pressure against our country, and on the other hand, it expects Iran to come to the negotiating table and ultimately surrender to its unilateral demands... such an equation is impossible," according to a statement published by Pezeshkian's office.

He noted that Iran fundamentally does not consider war and insecurity to be favorable options.

Pezeshkian stressed that Iran must not deprive itself of nuclear technology, saying the United States suggests that Iran must not have a nuclear industry, and imposes extra pressure on the country by putting forward excessive demands.

He added that in all previous negotiations, Iran was fully ready to provide, within the framework of international regulations and global monitoring, whatever was deemed necessary under international norms to ensure the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.

Al-Zaidi, for his part, voiced Iraq's readiness to mediate between Iran and the United States to contain regional crises, according to statement from Al-Zaidi's media office.

According to the Iraqi statement, the two sides also agreed to exchange official visits in the coming period to strengthen bilateral ties.

Iran launches new system to regulate shipping through Strait of Hormuz

Iran has launched a new system to control ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, continuing a maritime standoff that now involves a US blockade and threats of military action, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.

Under the new rules, all ships planning to pass through the narrow waterway must receive permission via email from Iranian authorities, according to state-run Press TV.

Ships would be required to adjust their operations accordingly and obtain permission before entering the waterway, Press TV reported. It described the initiative as a "sovereign governance system" now in effect in the strategic chokepoint.

Iran has tightened its approach to the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, when it said it would deny safe passage to vessels linked to Israel and the United States following joint strikes on Iranian territory.

Iran's parliament is also considering legislation that would formalize restrictions on vessels tied to Israel and the United States and introduce a toll system for other ships deemed non-hostile.

The claims come amid heightened tensions over the waterway. The United States has also imposed restrictions affecting ships traveling to and from Iranian ports following unsuccessful post-ceasefire negotiations with Tehran in Islamabad on April 11 and 12.

Trump said on Sunday the United States would begin what he called "Project Freedom," escorting ships out of the Strait of Hormuz starting from Monday morning, describing it as a humanitarian measure.

In response, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the country's joint military command, warned in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency that "any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz."

(With input from agencies)