Pakistan and Iran request Trump to reconsider deadlines for Hormuz Strait

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made an appeal to the United States President Donald Trump to extend a deadline for an Iran deal by two weeks and to allow Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz during the same period.

Sharif cited progress in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the US-Israeli war on Iran, stating that “diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully.” He also requested Trump to extend the deadline, while calling on Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture.

The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed that Trump was aware of Pakistan’s proposal and stated that a response would be forthcoming. Separately, a senior Iranian official told Reuters news agency that Tehran is positively reviewing the request.

Iran has effectively blocked maritime traffic at the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks on its soil since February 28. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that it would not hesitate to respond in kind if the US attacked civilian facilities.

Trump had previously threatened to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power stations, if his demands were not met. Legal experts have raised concerns about targeting civilian infrastructure, with one scholar stating that such actions could be considered war crimes.

As efforts for a diplomatic breakthrough intensified, tensions escalated in the region. Israel struck railways and bridges in several areas across Iran, while Iranian forces launched attacks against targets across the region, including Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Source: Al Jazeera