US President Donald Trump has warned Iran it will face "a much higher level and intensity" of strikes if it fails to agree to a peace deal that the two sides are reportedly closing in on.

May 5 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump announced a pause to Project Freedom on Tuesday night, less than 48 hours after the U.S. military began the operation to escort commercial and tanker vessels through the Iran-restricted shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz.

A US blockade on Iranian ports will remain in force, said President Donald Trump.

Trump also sought to minimise the war with Iran, calling it “a little skirmish.”

US President Trump says the US effort to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz is on pause amid a push for an Iran deal. The US says it will now only operate defensively to enforce a naval blockade. DW has more.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would briefly pause an operation to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran. "We have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will ‌remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom ... will be…

Trump warns Iran of intensified bombing if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid potential peace talks.

The U.S. military fired on an Iranian oil tanker Wednesday as President Donald Trump sought to pressure Tehran into reaching a deal to end the war.

Tehran says it wants 'comprehensive agreement' as FM meets with Chinese counterpart; Netanyahu said to speak with UAE president on recent Iranian attacks

The US president pauses the military operation to get ships through the Strait of Hormuz two days after he announced it.

US media is reporting that both sides may be close to agreeing a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the conflict.

Trump hails tentative Iran peace deal but says in-person truce signing is "too far," threatening renewed bombing if Tehran rejects the agreement.

Despite over ten attacks on U.S. forces and nine on commercial ships since April 7, officials say the Iran ceasefire remains intact for now.

President Trump threatened Wednesday to bomb Iran at a "much higher level" if Tehran does not agree to emerging terms to end the war.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed gratitude to United States President Donald Trump for temporarily pausing 'Project

US officials have so far said little about Allen's alleged motivation, pointing only to an email Allen sent to relatives on the night of the attack.