US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, March 19, 2026. PHOTO: Reuters
ISLAMABAD:
With a deadline set by US President Donald Trump fast approaching, Pakistan has launched an unprecedented diplomatic push to salvage a last-minute deal between the US and Iran, even as officials admit the effort is hanging by a thread.
The past 48 hours have witnessed the most intense round of diplomacy since the outbreak of hostilities, with Islamabad working around the clock with other key actors to prevent a further escalation of the conflict.
Although no breakthrough has been announced, the flurry of engagements has at least ensured the exchange of proposals and counter-proposals between Washington and Tehran through Pakistani intermediaries.
However, officials familiar with the backchannel contacts said the latest exchanges underscore the extent of differences that remain between the two sides, suggesting that bridging the gap may not be possible in the near term.
Notably, the latest diplomatic push has also drawn China and Russia, two close allies of Iran, into the evolving process.
Their involvement is seen as an attempt to address Tehran’s long-standing trust deficit with Washington and lend greater credibility to any potential framework.
According to diplomatic sources, senior officials from all three major powers have been in close contact over the past two days. Media reports suggested that Pakistan’s military leadership was engaging with top US officials, including US Vice President JD Vance and the Middle East envoy, as well as Iran’s foreign minister, in an attempt to keep the dialogue alive.
Parallel to these efforts, Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, while Chinese and Russian foreign ministers also coordinated their positions amid the rapidly evolving situation.
Despite the high-level activity, there has been no detailed official readout from Islamabad. The State Department has so far limited itself to a generic statement confirming that diplomatic efforts are underway, but refraining from commenting on details.
“There have been several reports of a 45-day ceasefire offer or a 15-point exchange. We do not comment on these individual, specific incidents,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said when asked about the reported proposals.
The spokesman’s remarks came in response to an international media report claiming that a framework aimed at ending hostilities had been shared with both Washington and Tehran. According to the report, which cited a source familiar with the development, the proposals were exchanged with the two sides overnight through Pakistani channels.
Separately, another report indicated that discussions were underway on a potential 45-day ceasefire as part of a phased approach that could eventually lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities.
But officials cautioned that such ideas remain at an early stage and have yet to gain formal acceptance.
Tehran, for its part, has signaled a cautious but firm stance. Iranian officials said they had conveyed their response to the latest proposals through intermediate channels and outlined a set of conditions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the talks could not continue under pressure or threats. “Negotiations are incompatible with ultimatums and threats to commit war crimes,” he said, adding that previous proposals, including a reported 15-point framework, were rejected as “excessive.”
According to Iranian media, Tehran’s response consists of a detailed set of demands, including an end to hostilities throughout the region, guarantees of safe navigation through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction aid and the lifting of sanctions.
Iran has also stressed that any deal must ensure a permanent end to the conflict rather than a temporary ceasefire, reflecting the country’s deep skepticism about short-term arrangements.
The renewed diplomatic push comes amid escalating hostilities that have raised alarm over the potential disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies.
The conflict has already injected volatility into international oil markets, with traders closely watching developments that could affect the flow of crude through the narrow waterway.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has positioned itself as a key facilitator in the crisis, leveraging its longstanding ties to Washington as well as its working relationship with Tehran.
Officials say Islamabad’s role has been to maintain open lines of communication and ensure both sides continue to engage, even indirectly.
In a significant development, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently clarified that Tehran had never rejected the possibility of talks in Islamabad, signaling openness to Pakistan’s offer to host talks.
Diplomatic observers believe Pakistan’s involvement has been instrumental in keeping the process alive at a time when direct contact between the US and Iran remains limited.
But despite the intense efforts, the prospects for an immediate breakthrough remain uncertain. With the deadline looming and positions still entrenched, much will depend on whether the latest exchanges can generate enough momentum to prevent a complete breakdown of diplomacy.
