Pakistan brokers historic ceasefire between US and Iran

Washington, DC - US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, following nearly six weeks of bombing. The agreement came after backchannel talks led by Pakistan, which resulted in the temporary halt of hostilities.

According to Trump’s statement, he had agreed to the ceasefire “based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan”. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the ceasefire on X, stating that Iran would allow unimpeded transit through the Strait of Hormuz under the auspices of the Iranian armed forces.

Other key differences between Trump’s statement and Araghchi’s assertions emerged, including the inclusion of Lebanon in the ceasefire and the US agreement to allow Iran to pursue uranium enrichment. Additionally, it is unclear whether Trump has accepted a 10-point Iranian list of demands or if the two sides have agreed on other terms.

Pakistan played a central role in mediating the talks between warring nations, with both Trump and Araghchi acknowledging the country’s efforts. Trump stated that Pakistan had “requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran”.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also spoke directly with Prime Minister Sharif on Wednesday afternoon, paving the way for formal talks in Islamabad on Friday. A US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance is expected to attend the talks, which could potentially be joined by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The ceasefire marks a significant development in the conflict, which has resulted in over 2,000 deaths in Iran and disrupted roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supplies. The war began on February 28 with US-Israeli coordinated strikes that targeted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure.

Source: Al Jazeera