JUST IN: Iran Conflict Mediator Pushes For Deadline Extension

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is aggressively pushing for a two-week extension of the deadline set by President Donald Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end its blockade of Gulf oil shipping. The request came hours before the current 8 p.m. Eastern Time cutoff, after which the United States has indicated it could proceed with strikes on Iranian infrastructure.

Sharif — who has been acting as the primary third-party conflict mediator alongside leaders from Egypt and Turkey — stated in a social media post that diplomatic efforts “are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future.

“To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture,” Sharif posted on X.

“We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.”

Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future. To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 7, 2026

In a statement to Reuters, a senior Iranian government official stated that Pakistan’s proposal is being seriously considered in the hours ahead of the deadline.

The White House also confirmed that President Donald Trump has received the proposal. “The President has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios.

The current deadline stems from an earlier 10-day ultimatum issued by Trump, which was extended by 20 hours to the present 8 p.m. Eastern Time deadline on Tuesday. Negotiations have involved indirect channels, including messages between Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, facilitated by the aforementioned regional mediators.

Earlier in the process, mediators presented a framework to both sides that included a potential 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The plan was structured in two phases: an initial ceasefire period to de-escalate hostilities, followed by broader negotiations aimed at a permanent settlement addressing underlying issues such as Iran’s uranium stockpile and regional stability.

The latest Pakistani proposal for a two-week extension aligns with this approach, seeking an immediate pause to allow further talks without immediate military action. Sharif’s statement emphasized that the temporary measures would create space for diplomacy to produce a conclusive end to the conflict.

An agreement has not been reached as of this report, though multiple outlets are now reporting that negotiations are well underway.

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