American President Donald Trump has suspended Operation Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz at the request of international mediators. The move, intended to create breathing space for a potential deal with Iran, comes as a new 60-day window opens for conflict resolution.

The operation, which saw United States naval forces escorting commercial vessels and clearing threats from Iranian drones and attack boats, is now on a temporary pause while mediators work to set terms acceptable to all sides.

The suspension has, however, alarmed Gulf states, who fear that Washington may agree to a deal that prioritises de-escalation over the security of their energy infrastructure.

Energy markets have responded cautiously, with crude prices slipping to just below $110 per barrel.

Trump’s pause comes as Tehran’s foreign minister departs for Beijing to hold talks with Chinese officials, highlighting China’s central role as a mediator in the conflict. Beijing’s interest in stabilising the Gulf, given its limited oil reserves, aligns China as a key power broker in a conflict increasingly defined by economic and political pressure rather than traditional battlefield advances. Trump will be in China in just over a week for talks that The Common Sense has argued present a potential conflict offramp.