U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, United States, March 19, 2026. PHOTO: Reuters
ISLAMABAD:
With a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump fast approaching, Pakistan has taken unprecedented diplomatic action to salvage a last-minute deal between the United States and Iran, although officials acknowledge the effort is hanging by a thread.
The past 48 hours have seen the most intense diplomatic cycle since hostilities began, with Islamabad working around the clock alongside other key players to prevent a further escalation of the conflict.
Even if no breakthrough was announced, the wave of engagements at least ensured the exchange of proposals and counter-proposals between Washington and Tehran through Pakistani intermediaries.
However, officials familiar with indirect contacts said the latest exchanges underscore the scale of differences that remain between the two sides, suggesting it may not be possible to bridge the gap immediately.
Significantly, the latest diplomatic move also brought China and Russia, two close allies of Iran, into the evolving process.
Their involvement is seen as an attempt to address Tehran’s long-standing trust deficit with Washington and lend greater credibility to any potential framework.
According to diplomatic sources, senior officials from the three major powers have been in close contact over the past two days. Media reports suggested that Pakistan’s military leadership had collaborated with senior US officials, including US Vice President JD Vance and the Middle East envoy, as well as Iran’s foreign minister, in an effort to keep the dialogue alive.
Alongside these efforts, Sergei Lavrov held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, while the Chinese and Russian foreign ministers also coordinated their positions amid the rapidly evolving situation.
Despite the high-level activity, there has been no detailed official report from Islamabad. The Foreign Office has so far limited itself to a generic statement, confirming that diplomatic efforts are underway, but refraining from commenting on details.
“There have been several reports of an offer of a 45-day ceasefire, or a 15-point exchange. We do not comment on these individual and specific incidents,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said when asked about the reported proposals.
The spokesperson’s remarks followed an international media report saying a framework to end hostilities had been shared with Washington and Tehran. According to the report, which cites a source close to the matter, the proposals were exchanged between the two parties overnight via Pakistani channels.
Separately, another report indicated that discussions were underway on a possible 45-day ceasefire as part of a phased approach that could eventually lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities.
However, officials cautioned that such ideas are still at a preliminary stage and have yet to be formally agreed.
Tehran, for its part, displayed a cautious but firm stance. Iranian officials said they had conveyed their response to the recent proposals through intermediary channels, specifying a set of conditions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said negotiations could not take place under pressure or threat. “Negotiations are incompatible with ultimatums and threats to commit war crimes,” he said, adding that previous proposals, including a 15-point framework, had been rejected because they were “excessive.”
According to Iranian media, Tehran’s response consists of a detailed set of demands, including an end to hostilities in the region, guarantees for safe navigation in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction assistance and the lifting of sanctions.
Iran has also stressed that any agreement must guarantee a permanent end to the conflict rather than a temporary ceasefire, reflecting its deep skepticism of short-term deals.
The new diplomatic push comes against the backdrop of an escalation in hostilities that has sparked concern over the potential disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy supplies.
The conflict has already injected volatility into international oil markets, with traders closely monitoring developments that could affect the flow of crude through the narrow waterway.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has positioned itself as a key facilitator in the crisis, leveraging its long-standing ties with Washington as well as its working relationship with Tehran.
Officials say Islamabad’s role has been to maintain open lines of communication and ensure that the two sides continue to engage, even indirectly.
Significantly, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently clarified that Tehran has never refused the option of talks in Islamabad, signaling its openness to Pakistan’s offer to host the negotiations.
Diplomatic observers say Pakistan’s involvement has been instrumental in keeping the process going at a time when direct contact between the United States and Iran remains limited.
Yet despite intense efforts, prospects for immediate progress remain uncertain. As the deadline approaches and positions remain entrenched, much will depend on whether the latest exchanges generate enough momentum to prevent a complete collapse of diplomacy.
