Pak requests Trump to extend Iran deadline by 2 weeks, urges Iran to reopen Hormuz

Shehbaz Sharif further called on all sides involved in the conflict to observe a ceasefire during this period, stressing the need to create space for negotiations.

In Short

• Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif urges Trump to extend Iran deadline by two weeks
• Requests Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz as goodwill gesture
• Iran, US reviewing Pakistan’s request for a 2-week ceasefire

Hours ahead of Donald Trump's deadline to dismantle Iran, Pakistan has stepped forward with a last-minute push to slow things down -- not with force, but with time. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has requested US President Donald Trump to extend the deadline set for Iran by two weeks, calling for a temporary ceasefire to allow diplomacy to take hold.

In a post on X, Shehbaz Sharif said diplomatic efforts are "progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully" and could soon deliver results. "To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks," he said.

Shehbaz Sharif also appealed directly to Tehran, urging it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the same duration as a gesture of goodwill. "Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks," he said.

Beyond bilateral steps, Shehbaz Sharif called for a broader pause in hostilities. "We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region," he added.

The US President had confirmed that JD Vance, alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is engaged in indirect talks via Pakistan.

US, IRAN ACKNOWLEDGES PAK'S PROPOSAL

The White House has confirmed that Trump is aware of Pakistan’s proposal. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios, "The President has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come," indicating that Washington is weighing its next move as the deadline approaches.

In a sign that the proposal may be gaining traction, a senior Iranian official told news agency Reuters that Tehran is "positively reviewing" Pakistan’s request for a two-week ceasefire.

This comes hours after Trump issued one of his strongest threats against Iran. On Truth Social, he wrote, "A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will."

Trump still held his cards close to his chest, saying the attack might be called off at the last moment depending on the situation, and described tonight as "the most important moment in the long and complex history of the world."

- Ends
With inputs from agencies