Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded President Trump on Wednesday for pausing Project Freedom, saying the halt to the brief U.S. military operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz — which prompted Iran to attack ships and Gulf States for the first time in weeks — would "go a long way towards advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation."

"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," said Sharif, whose country has served as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington, in a social media post. 

"I am grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz," said the Pakistani leader, adding that his country "remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy."

Mr. Trump said Tuesday evening, when he announced the pause in Project Freedom, that he was doing so after "great progress" in negotiations "toward a Complete and Final Agreement" to end the war with Iran.

Iran's government has yet to react publicly to Mr. Trump's announcement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that China was "deeply distressed" over the war that has lasted more than two months and said a "comprehensive ceasefire" was needed.

Wang met Araghchi in Beijing, the first time the Iranian foreign minister traveled to China since the war with the U.S. and Israel started Feb. 28.

"We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a resumption of hostilities is not acceptable, and that it is particularly important to remain committed to dialogue and negotiations," Wang said. 

After their meeting, Araghchi said Tehran would only accept "a fair and comprehensive agreement" to end the war, according to Iranian state media.

"We will do our best to protect our legitimate rights and interests in the negotiations," he was quoted as saying, without addressing President Trump's announcement on Tuesday that he was pausing Operation Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz "for a short period of time."

Mr. Trump said he was pausing the U.S. military operation to guide ships through the strait a day after it began to see whether a comprehensive peace deal could be agreed with Tehran, citing what he said had been "great progress" in negotiations brokered by Pakistan. 

The operation infuriated Tehran, drawing the first Iranian attacks on ships in the strait, and on the United Arab Emirates, since the U.S.-Iran ceasefire began in early April.

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President Trump said Tuesday on social media that Project Freedom will be paused as the U.S. and Iran make "Great Progress" toward a final agreement, but said the U.S. blockade would remain in place.

"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," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Project Freedom, the U.S. military's effort to help move ships through the Strait of Hormuz, began Monday.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday there are more than 1,500 vessels with about 22,500 mariners trapped inside the Persian Gulf.

The United States and its Gulf allies have proposed a United Nations resolution threatening Iran with sanctions or other measures if it doesn't halt attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, stop imposing "illegal tolls," and start disclosing the placement of all mines to allow freedom of navigation.

The draft Security Council resolution, obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, also demands that Iran "immediately participate in and enable" U.N. efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor in the strait for the delivery of vital aid, fertilizer and other goods.

It is the latest diplomatic effort by the U.S. and its Gulf allies after a watered-down resolution aimed at opening the strait was vetoed by China and Russia hours before Washington and Tehran announced a temporary ceasefire in early April.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement on Tuesday accused Iran of continuing "to hold the world's economy hostage" by trying to close the strait, threatening to attack ships, laying sea mines, and attempting to charge tolls "for the world's most important waterway."

Whether the resolution succeeds will be "a real test" for the U.N. "as something that functions, that can solve global problems," Rubio added at the White House briefing.

During his press briefing with reporters, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Operation Epic Fury is over.

"The operation is over," Rubio said. "Epic Fury is, the president notified Congress, we're done with that stage of it. OK? We're now onto this project of freedom."

Project Freedom is a U.S. effort to help commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

"The operation, Epic Fury, is concluded," Rubio also said. "We achieved the objectives of that operation."

Rubio said the issue of Iran's enriched uranium is being addressed in negotiations, although he didn't go into where negotiations stand.