Trending 
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued an urgent appeal on Tuesday, requesting that U.S. President Donald Trump extend his military deadline for strikes on Iran by two weeks.
In a strategic diplomatic move, Sharif also called on Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the same period as a gesture of goodwill.
This proposal arrived just hours before a midnight GMT deadline, after which the U.S. has threatened the “complete demolition” of Iranian power plants and bridges.
The White House has acknowledged the mediation effort, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming that the president is aware of the proposal and will issue a response.
The situation remains critical following Trump’s recent warnings that a failure to comply would result in catastrophic consequences for the region.
Pakistan has positioned itself as a primary intermediary in the conflict, aiming to facilitate “meaningful talks” and prevent the war from escalating into a total regional collapse.
In addition to the deadline extension, Sharif proposed a comprehensive two-week ceasefire involving all warring parties to allow diplomatic channels to achieve a permanent resolution.
He emphasised that peace efforts are progressing steadily and have the potential to deliver substantive results if given more time.
While the U.S. maintains its demand for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan’s proposal offers a potential window for de-escalation in a conflict that has paralysed global energy markets since late February.
