Pakistan is making a last-minute push to hit the brakes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged President Donald Trump to extend his looming deadline for Iran, arguing that diplomacy is gaining traction and needs more time.
“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,” Sharif said. “To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks.”
The appeal comes just hours before Trump’s 8 p.m. ET cutoff for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — or face potential U.S. strikes on key infrastructure.
Pakistan, which has positioned itself as a go-between in the conflict, has been relaying messages between Washington and Tehran throughout the war.
Sharif paired his request with a proposal aimed at both sides.
He called on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the same two-week period as a goodwill gesture, while also urging all parties to observe a temporary ceasefire.
“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,” Sharif added.
The proposal effectively outlines a short-term de-escalation window — reopen shipping lanes, pause hostilities, and negotiate a broader settlement.
It also underscores how tight the timeline has become.
Trump has already extended the deadline multiple times — first to March 27, then April 6, and finally to April 7 — signaling both a willingness to negotiate and a desire to keep pressure on Tehran.
Fox News confirmed on Tuesday that President Trump is in “heated negotiations” with Iran.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump just told Fox he's in "HEATED NEGOTIATIONS" with Iran right now — mere 4 HOURS before his bridge and power plant deadline
Imagine that. They took Trump's deadline seriously.
It's entirely up to 47. He could unleash FIRE AND FURY if he believes Iran… pic.twitter.com/kVxxOLqvGX
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 7, 2026
Now, the White House is weighing whether to grant yet another reprieve.
This story is developing…
Pakistan asks Trump for two-week delay on president's Iran deadline to mediate diplomacy https://t.co/1PB2MIwfyP pic.twitter.com/dZAtDpBV4l
— New York Post (@nypost) April 7, 2026
