Can Trumps Bridge Day Plan Bring an End to Ongoing Conflict?

US President Donald Trump has issued a new deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, stating that Tuesday will be “Power Plant Day” and “Bridge Day” if Tehran does not comply by early morning local time on Wednesday.

Trump’s post on his Truth Social platform included profanity-laced language. This is part of a series of deadlines he has set since March 21, when he first threatened to blow up Iran’s electricity plants and energy facilities.

On Sunday night, Trump announced a specific new deadline: 8pm ET on Tuesday (00:00 GMT, Wednesday), which works out to 3:30am local time in Iran on Wednesday. Mediators from Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are attempting to secure at least a partial breakthrough to postpone or end the risks of further military escalation.

The US-Israel war on Iran has resulted in over 2,000 deaths in the country, while close to 1,500 people have been killed in Israel’s war on Lebanon. Additionally, more than 100 people have died in Iraq and 24 in Israel. The US has lost 13 service members, including a high-risk rescue operation to pluck an officer out of Iran after his F-15 jet was brought down.

According to a source close to mediators, a proposal for a 45-day ceasefire is being considered. However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi has refused to confirm or deny the plan, stating that the peace process is ongoing.

Mediators are cautious about spelling out details of their communication between the US and Iran due to the sensitive nature of negotiations and the fast-changing positions articulated by Washington. Officials have reported two proposals: a 45-day ceasefire and a shorter ceasefire. The latter would not allow for comprehensive talks aimed at ending the war, but could create a window for confidence-building measures that could lead to momentum for a longer ceasefire.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is leading the mediation efforts, having been on the phone with US Vice President JD Vance, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday night.

Source: Al Jazeera