Pakistan Proposes Two-Stage Ceasefire Plan to End US-Israel-Iran War

Apr 6, 2026

Pakistan is mediating a proposed 45-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran to end a war that has killed over 2,000 people in Iran, with Turkey and Egypt also involved in negotiations. US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by a Wednesday morning deadline, though he has repeatedly deferred previous deadlines citing ongoing talks. Iran has rejected the US 15-point peace plan as maximalist and insists on reparations before reopening the strategic waterway, which currently allows only select countries' ships to pass. Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir conducted intensive phone diplomacy with US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, proposing a two-stage process with confidence-building measures. Iran fears a temporary ceasefire could enable continued attacks similar to Gaza and Lebanon, while analysts warn Trump's threatened infrastructure strikes would likely violate laws of war.

Trump's Ultimatum and Threats of Military Escalation

▪Donald Trump issued a deadline of 8pm ET on Tuesday (00:00 GMT, Wednesday), which works out to 3:30am local time in Iran on Wednesday.
▪Donald Trump first threatened to blow up Iran's electricity plants and energy facilities on March 21.
▪Donald Trump has laid out and then deferred a series of deadlines since March 21, citing negotiations with Iran to justify pushing back announced deadlines.
▪Donald Trump told Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst on Sunday that the United States would be able to secure a deal with Iran on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by Monday.

Pakistan's Two-Stage Ceasefire Mediation Proposal

▪Steve Witkoff confirmed that Pakistan passed on a 15-point plan for peace shared by the United States with Iran.
▪Steve Witkoff is Donald Trump's top envoy for talks with Iran.
▪A proposal for a 45-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran is on the table to create a window for negotiations aimed at a longer-term agreement to end the war.
▪Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused on Monday to confirm or deny the 45-day ceasefire plan.

Iran's Response and Conditions for Reopening the Strait

▪Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed on Monday that mediators were passing messages between Iran and the United States.

Casualty Toll and War Crimes Concerns

▪The United States has lost 13 service members in the war on Iran.
▪The United States carried out a high-risk rescue operation on Sunday to pluck an officer out of Iran after the officer's F-15 jet was brought down.
▪The US-Israel war on Iran has killed more than 2,000 people in Iran.
▪Close to 1,500 people have been killed in Israel's war on Lebanon.