President Donald Trump said Wednesday that "Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran."
However, "If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The remarks come as Project Freedom, the U.S. military operation to open the Strait of Hormuz, is temporarily paused.
Trump halted the operation on Tuesday, saying that "great progress” was being made toward a potential deal with Tehran to end the conflict.
A fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is holding despite continued attacks, as President Donald Trump announced a pause in naval escort operations to allow negotiations to continue — while warning that failure to reach a deal would result in a significantly escalated bombing campaign.
Trump said the pause in Project Freedom — the U.S. mission to guide commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz — is intended to give negotiators time to finalize what he described as a potential "complete and final agreement" with Iran, while maintaining that the U.S. naval blockade would remain in place.
Trump suggested in a social media post Wednesday morning the conflict could soon come to an end if Iran agrees to the terms under discussion, but warned that if it does not, U.S. forces would resume bombing at a significantly higher level and intensity.
"Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran," Trump wrote Wednesday morning. "If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before."
"We prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded to defend our people, our ships, our aircraft, and this mission without hesitation," War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday.
Even as negotiations advance, Iran has continued attacks on commercial vessels and U.S. forces, which officials say remain "below the threshold" of restarting major combat operations.
U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday that 52 commercial ships have been directed to turn around as part of the U.S. military’s ongoing blockade of Iranian ports.
CENTCOM released a photo of the USS George H.W. Bush, describing the aircraft carrier of being “among the large contingent of U.S. warships, aircraft, and personnel fully enforcing the U.S. naval blockade against Iran.”
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that despite a temporary pause in Project Freedom — the military operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports will remain in effect.
{{#rendered}}White House spokeswoman Taylor Rodgers told Fox News on Wednesday that gas prices should “plummet” as President Donald Trump works to bring Operation Epic Fury to an end.
“President Trump remains committed to fully unleashing American energy dominance, lowering costs, and putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking American families,” Rogers said.
“As the President continues to exert maximum leverage over Iran with the ongoing successful blockade to bring this conflict to an end, we will see global energy markets stabilize and gas prices plummet back to the multi-year lows Americans enjoyed prior to the start of Operation Epic Fury,” she added.
The national average price for a gallon of gas climbed 5 cents to $4.53 on Wednesday, according to AAA.
Fox News’ Patrick Ward contributed to this report.
The White House is getting close to an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and establish a framework for detailed discussions about Tehran’s nuclear program, a report from Axios said.
The outlet, citing two U.S. officials and two other sources briefed on the issue, reported that the U.S. is expecting Iran to respond to several key points within the next 48 hours.
The deal would involve Iran agreeing to a halt on nuclear enrichment, while the U.S. would lift sanctions and free up billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds, according to Axios.
Both sides would also lift restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz, it added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for further comment.
China and Iran’s foreign ministers met Wednesday in Beijing, just about a week before President Donald Trump is heading to China’s capital for a high stakes summit with Xi Jinping.
During the meeting with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi called for a “comprehensive ceasefire," saying his country is deeply distressed by the war.
“The international community shares a common concern for restoring normal and safe passage through the Strait, and China hopes the relevant parties will respond as quickly as possible to the strong calls from the international community,” China's official news agency Xinhua quoted him as saying, according to The Associated Press.
Araghchi later described the talks as "constructive," adding in a statement on X that "Both sides reaffirmed Iran's right to safeguard national sovereignty and national dignity."
"The Iranian side appreciates the four-point proposal put forward by the Chinese side on upholding and promoting regional peace and stability. The Iranian side trusts the Chinese side and expects the Chinese side to continue playing a positive role in promoting peace and stopping war, and supports the establishment of a new post-war regional architecture that can coordinate development and security," he added.
Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. hasn’t "been challenged by China" on the conflict with Iran.
"I have a very good relationship with President Xi. You know, I find him to be a tremendous guy, and we get along well. And you see how we do," Trump told reporters when asked about his upcoming meeting with Xi, and what he hopes to achieve with him in relation to Iran.
"But he's been very nice about this. You know, in all fairness, he gets like, 60% of his oil from Hormuz. And he's been, I think he's been very respectful," Trump added. "We haven't been challenged by China. They don't challenge us. And he wouldn't do that. I don't think he'd do that because of me. But, I think he's been very respectful."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
{{#rendered}}Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iranian media on Wednesday that Tehran is considering a proposal from the U.S. regarding the war.
In an interview with the ISNA news agency, Baghaei said the proposal is still being considered by Iran and that Iranian leadership will later convey its response to Pakistani mediators.
Details about the proposal were not immediately available.
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday night that Project Freedom, the operation to open the Strait of Hormuz, was temporarily paused as “Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran.”
He then said Wednesday that "Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran."
"If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," Trump also warned.
Fox News' Thomas Ferraro contributed to this report.
The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday that it began striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon after two of its soldiers were injured by “explosive drones” launched by the Iran-backed terrorist group.
“In several incidents a short while ago, the Hezbollah terrorist organization launched explosive drones and a number of rockets toward IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement.
“Two explosive drones detonated in proximity to IDF soldiers,” it added. “As a result, two IDF soldiers were moderately and lightly injured. The soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment at a hospital, and their families have been notified.”
In another incident, the IDF said it “intercepted a hostile aircraft prior to crossing into Israeli territory.”
Fox News' Yonat Friling contributed to this report.
One of the world’s largest shipping groups said Tuesday that the temporary pause of Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz is a “surprise” and “challenge.”
The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), which describes itself as the “world's largest international shipping association, with over 2,000 members in 130 countries,” said in a statement that “Our members report that crews are coping mentally and practically with the situation.”
"The suspension of ‘Project Freedom’ shortly after its launch is a surprise,” BIMCO said.
"While a few ships made it out safely while ‘Project Freedom’ was in place, it was clear that transits without coordination with Iran entailed significant risk,” it added. "Changes announced at short notice or changes that are surprising, such as the sudden suspension of ‘Project Freedom,’ are a challenge for shipowners attempting to assess the risks and planning for leaving the Persian Gulf."
BIMCO noted that “Shipowners are still able to buy provisions and fuel locally, although at elevated prices."
{{#rendered}}Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday that he is “grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.”
“President Trump's gracious response to the request made by Pakistan and other brotherly countries, particularly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and my dear brother Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia H.R.H Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will go a long way towards advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation during this sensitive period,” Sharif, a key mediator in discussions between the U.S. and Iran, wrote on X.
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. We are very hopeful that the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond,” he added.
Trump announced on Truth Social Tuesday night that Project Freedom, the U.S. military operation to open the Strait of Hormuz, has been temporarily paused with “great progress” being made toward a potential deal with Tehran to end the conflict.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that “Project Freedom,” the U.S. effort to secure ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz, will be paused temporarily following what he described in a post on Truth Social as significant progress toward a potential agreement with Iran.
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed." Trump said.
Yesterday's Fox News Digital liveblog has additional coverage of the Iran conflict.
Live Coverage begins here