U.S. President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that Iran could face “higher level” military strikes if it refuses to accept a peace agreement, even as negotiations aimed at ending the conflict continue to show what he described as “great progress.”

Speaking to reporters, Trump said it was still “too soon” to resume direct talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan, where diplomatic efforts brokered by Islamabad have been underway.

The comments came a day after Trump announced a pause in “Project Freedom,” the short-lived U.S. military operation designed to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz and challenge Iran’s control over the strategic waterway.

The mission had triggered Iran’s first attacks in weeks against vessels in the strait and against U.S.-aligned Gulf states, intensifying fears that the fragile ceasefire could collapse.

Trump said Tuesday night that the operation would be temporarily suspended to give negotiators time to finalize what he called a “complete and final agreement” to end the war.

Iran has not yet publicly responded to the pause in Project Freedom or Trump’s latest remarks.