Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on President Donald Trump Wednesday to grant a two-week extension on his ultimatum demanding Iran cease its oil blockade in the Gulf region.
In a social media post on X, Sharif made his appeal for additional time to pursue diplomatic solutions. “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 wrote.
The Pakistani leader’s intervention comes as Trump’s ultimatum approaches its deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday night, which corresponds to 3:30 a.m. Thursday in Tehran. The President has threatened to target Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and power facilities, if the oil blockade continues.
Sharif also called for a broader two-week ceasefire among “all warring parties” to create space for negotiations aimed at “conclusive termination of war.”
The Prime Minister expressed optimism about ongoing peace efforts, describing diplomatic initiatives as “progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future.”
The White House has not yet provided a response to the Pakistani leader’s request.
According to sources familiar with the situation, negotiations between Washington and Tehran faced setbacks following Iran’s strikes on Saudi industrial targets this week.
Pakistan has emerged as the primary intermediary facilitating communication between the United States and Iran, though no breakthrough agreement has materialized thus far.
