Iran-US war: Pakistan has proposed a two-phase framework to end hostilities between the United States and Iran, Reuters reported, citing officials familiar with the plan. The report added that all elements must be agreed on Monday (April 6) for an immediate ceasefire in the US-Iran war that could reopen one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes – the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan’s ‘Islamabad Accord’: What the ceasefire proposal contains
Islamabad has quietly put together a diplomatic framework that could end the US-Iran conflict, exchanging a proposal with Washington and Tehran overnight, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The plan, tentatively referred to as the “Islamabad Agreement”, envisages a two-tiered approach: an immediate ceasefire followed by a comprehensive long-term settlement with final face-to-face talks to be held in Islamabad.
If an initial arrangement is agreed, it will be formalized as a memorandum of understanding and concluded electronically through Pakistan, which has emerged as the only channel of communication between the two sides.
“All elements need to be agreed today,” the source said, stressing the urgency of the latest round of diplomacy.
Field Marshal Asim Munir at the center of the night’s diplomatic action
At the heart of the effort is Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who, according to the source, was in contact “throughout the night” with US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. The intensity of this overnight reach reflects how seriously Islamabad is seeking a breakthrough, positioning Pakistan as an indispensable back channel in one of the most consequential geopolitical battles in recent years.
Axios reported on Sunday that the US, Iran and regional mediators were discussing a potential 45-day ceasefire as part of a two-phase deal that could lead to a permanent end to the war, citing US, Israeli and regional sources.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is causing global energy alarm
Central to the proposal’s urgency is the fate of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a significant proportion of the world’s oil reserves pass. Under Pakistan’s plan, the ceasefire would take effect immediately after the deal, reopening the strait, with a window of 15 to 20 days to finalize a broader settlement.
The closure of the strait rattled energy markets and traders watched every diplomatic signal for signs of a resolution. The latest hostilities have introduced a level of volatility not seen in the region in years, and the economic consequences of the prolonged shutdown are weighing heavily on governments far beyond the Middle East.
Nuclear commitments and sanctions relief at the heart of the final deal
The source said the final deal, if it were to go through, is expected to include Iranian commitments not to pursue nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets — a pattern that largely mirrors the architecture of previous attempts to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions through diplomatic means.
Iranian officials previously told Reuters that Tehran was seeking a permanent ceasefire with guarantees that it would not be attacked again by the US and Israel, and that Iran had received messages from mediators including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt.
Iran remains unresponsive despite intensified outreach
Despite the frantic pace of diplomacy, Tehran has yet to hint at a deal. Two Pakistani sources confirmed that Iran has yet to commit, although civilian and military outreach has intensified.
“Iran has yet to respond,” one source said, adding that proposals backed by Pakistan, China and the United States for a temporary ceasefire had so far yielded no commitment.
There was no immediate response from US, Iranian or Chinese officials. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi declined to comment.
Trump has publicly called for a quick solution
The diplomatic push comes amid mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, who in recent days has publicly called for a quick end to the conflict and warned of consequences if a ceasefire is not reached soon. This public stance gave more weight to the behind-the-scenes efforts of mediators trying to translate goodwill into a signed agreement.
What happens next: The road to permanent settlement
If Tehran accepts the framework, the progression would be as follows: an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, followed by a fourteen-day negotiating window to finalize a comprehensive agreement, culminating in formal talks on Pakistani soil. Whether Iran eventually moves from silence to acceptance could determine not only the fate of the deal, but also the trajectory of a conflict whose reverberations are felt from oil shops to foreign ministries around the world.
