In the early hours of Wednesday, April 8, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced what much of the world had been desperately hoping for: an immediate ceasefire between the United States and Iran, extending to Lebanon, effective immediately. The announcement came just hours before a Trump-issued ultimatum was set to expire.
The two-week truce was brokered through intensive Pakistani mediation, with PM Sharif crediting both sides for showing “remarkable wisdom and understanding.” Both delegations have been invited to Islamabad on April 10 for talks aimed at reaching a lasting settlement — an unprecedented diplomatic moment for Pakistan on the world stage.
The ceasefire follows 40 days of intense military exchanges involving airstrikes, missile attacks, and threats that had destabilized the entire Gulf region, disrupted global shipping lanes, and sent energy prices spiraling. According to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the agreement includes provisions for passage through the Strait of Hormuz “via coordination with Iran’s armed forces.”
