In a critical diplomatic appeal, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged President Trump to consider extending the deadline for potential US military action against Iran. Speaking on Tuesday, Sharif emphasized the importance of allowing more time for diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions and avert a mass bombing of Iranian infrastructure.
Pakistan, actively mediating between the US and Iran, issued a statement highlighting that diplomatic negotiations are making “steady progress” even as the deadline looms. The urgency stems from President Trump’s ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m.
“Diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution to the Middle Eastern conflict are advancing steadily and with strength, potentially leading to significant outcomes soon,” Sharif stated. He implored President Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks to allow these efforts to unfold.
As part of its intermediary role, Pakistan has urged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the same two-week period as a sign of goodwill. Sharif also called on all involved parties to observe a ceasefire during this time, to facilitate a peaceful termination of hostilities and promote long-term regional stability.
President Trump has already postponed the deadline three times, initially setting it for March 27, then moving it to April 6, and finally to April 7, in consideration of Easter Monday. The repeated extensions underscore the delicate balance between military readiness and diplomatic negotiations.
Trump has already pushed the deadline three times — first to March 27, then April 6 and finally to April 7 to avoid bombing Iran on Easter Monday, he told reporters at the White House that day.
The White House is reviewing the offer.
“The president has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
After the news broke, Trump declined to say how he was feeling about negotiations in a phone call with Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich, noting that he was soon to be “briefed fully on it.”
“I can’t tell you, because right now we’re in heated negotiations,” he told Heinrich.
Iran has yet to issue a comment on the Pakistani proposal, but has repeatedly said it was unwilling to participate in a cease-fire.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday claimed a pause in fighting would merely allow the US a chance to prepare for more attacks.
“A cease-fire means creating a pause to strengthen forces for a new crime. No sane person would do this,” he said in translated remarks. “Our demands, in addition to the absence of a cease-fire and war cycle, must be met.”
The proposal comes after Trump on Tuesday warned in a Truth Social post that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” in Iran if Tehran does not meet his deadline.
“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?” he added.
With just hours until the deadline expires, the Iranian National Guard Corps threatened to retaliate against any attacks, stating its forces “will inflict such damage on the infrastructure of the US and its partners that they will be deprived of the region’s oil and gas for years to come,” Iran’s state-run Press TV reported.
