Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to extend the ongoing deadline by two weeks, signalling intensified diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Middle East conflict as the high-stakes timeline nears its end. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sharif said that diplomatic efforts for a peaceful settlement are progressing “steadily, strongly and powerfully”, with the potential to deliver substantive results in the near future, while emphasising that an extension would allow diplomacy to run its course at a critical juncture.
Pakistan is currently playing a key mediator role between the United States and Iran, facilitating indirect communication and the exchange of messages between the two sides as part of ongoing backchannel negotiations. Sharif’s remarks come in the context of these mediation efforts, with Pakistan actively engaging both Washington and Tehran to help bridge differences amid rising tensions.
The Pakistani leader also made a significant appeal to Iran, requesting it to open the Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding two-week period as a goodwill gesture, a move that could ease global concerns over energy supply disruptions. The Strait remains one of the world’s most crucial oil transit routes, and any disruption has already led to volatility in global energy markets. He further urged all warring parties to observe a two-week ceasefire, arguing that a temporary pause in hostilities could create the space required for negotiations to achieve a conclusive end to the conflict and ensure long-term regional stability.
The development comes just hours before President Trump’s 5:30 AM IST deadline, which has become a key focal point in the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Iran and Israel. The war, now stretching beyond five weeks, has already caused significant geopolitical and economic disruptions, including sharp swings in oil prices, concerns over shipping routes in the Gulf, and heightened uncertainty across global financial markets.