Pakistan has presented a plan for a ceasefire between Iran and the United States that could take effect as soon as today and lead to the reopening of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. According to an informed Reuters source, the plan is based on a two-stage approach, beginning with an immediate ceasefire followed by a comprehensive agreement. The proposal calls for "an immediate ceasefire and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, after which a final agreement should be reached within 15–20 days."
The final agreement includes complex conditions, such as Iran renouncing nuclear weapons, the lifting of international sanctions, and the unblocking of Iranian assets. The plan envisions initially documenting the arrangements as a memorandum of understanding, which would be finalized through Pakistan, acting as the sole channel of communication in the negotiations. Final talks are to be conducted face-to-face in Islamabad and will include regional frameworks for the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pakistani side held separate consultations with American and Iranian officials, including U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. envoy Steve Whitkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araki. Although the plan is supported by Pakistan, China and the U.S., no commitments have yet been received from Iran, despite intensified civilian and military contacts.
An Iranian senior official confirmed that Tehran has received the proposal and is studying it, but "will not accept any deadlines or pressure." The Iranian representative stressed that the country will not open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, as it believes the U.S. is not ready for a permanent ceasefire. This position reflects Tehran’s rejection of any temporary conditions or external pressure from regional or international mediators.
In parallel, according to reports from Axios, the U.S. and Iran are discussing the terms of a possible 45-day ceasefire as a step toward a final cessation of hostilities. U.S., Israeli and regional sources note that the chances of achieving a partial agreement within the next 48 hours remain limited, but this could be the last opportunity to prevent large-scale strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure and retaliatory attacks on energy and water facilities in Persian Gulf countries. The situation remains unstable as talks continue, but there are no guarantees of immediate implementation.
Comments on the news
- What specific military and economic power does control of the Strait of Hormuz give Iran, beyond its strategic location? - Control of the Strait of Hormuz gives Iran the ability to influence global oil prices and energy security by using the threat of blocking this critical route (through which roughly 30% of seaborne oil shipments pass) as leverage in international negotiations. Militarily, it allows Iran to rapidly deploy forces in the narrow strait, complicate navigation and create asymmetric threats (for example, using fast attack craft or mines) against more powerful naval forces.
- What are the historical relations between Iran and Pakistan that make Pakistan a suitable mediator in this conflict? - Historically, relations between Iran and Pakistan have been complex but broadly pragmatic. The two countries are neighbors, maintain diplomatic relations, and Pakistan has traditionally tried to balance between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan is not directly involved in regional conflicts on the side of any coalition, has experience in mediation (for example, in Afghanistan) and maintains lines of communication with both Iran and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, which makes it potentially acceptable as a mediator to various parties.
- What domestic political factors in Iran could influence Tehran’s decision to accept or reject this plan, for example the role of the Supreme Leader or the Revolutionary Guard? - Key domestic factors include the position of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on national security and foreign policy matters, and the influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which as a powerful military-political institution may advocate a harder line. The opinions of the Supreme National Security Council, the president and parliament (Majlis) may also play a role, particularly factions aligned with the principlists (conservatives), who are often skeptical of concessions in negotiations with the West or regional rivals.
Full version: رويترز: إيران وأمريكا تلقتا خطة تتضمن وقفا لإطلاق النار ثم اتفاقا نهائيا