Pakistan Appeals to Trump for Deadline Extension as Iran War Reaches Breaking Point

Islamabad Emerges as Mediator in Escalating Middle East Conflict

ISLAMABAD, In a high-stakes diplomatic maneuver just hours before a critical deadline, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued an urgent appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian leadership to halt a looming escalation in the ongoing U.S.-Israel war on Iran.

On Tuesday, Sharif requested a two-week extension of President Trump’s ultimatum to Tehran, while simultaneously urging Iran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz as a "goodwill gesture." The Prime Minister’s intervention comes as Islamabad positions itself as a central mediator in a conflict that has threatened global energy security and regional stability since late February.

A Plea for Diplomacy

In a statement posted to X, Prime Minister Sharif indicated that back-channel negotiations are yielding "steady, strong, and powerful" progress. He argued that more time is required to transform these diplomatic efforts into a substantive peace agreement.

"To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks," Sharif wrote. He further called for a comprehensive 14-day ceasefire from all warring parties to facilitate a "conclusive termination of war."

While the White House has not yet officially accepted the extension, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios that President Trump is aware of Pakistan's proposal and a formal response is forthcoming. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran is currently "positively reviewing" the request.

Rising Tensions and Threats of Destruction

The diplomatic window is narrowing against a backdrop of aggressive rhetoric. Earlier on Tuesday, President Trump took to Truth Social to warn that the United States would destroy Iranian "civilization" if Tehran did not comply with his terms and fully reopen maritime traffic.

Iran has effectively paralyzed the Strait of Hormuz (the world’s most vital oil transit point) retaliating for U.S. and Israeli strikes on its territory that began on February 28. In response to Trump’s latest threats, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned it would strike civilian targets in kind if the U.S. targets non-military infrastructure.

As the deadline approached, the conflict intensified on the ground:

• Israeli strikes: Reports indicate Israeli forces targeted Iranian railways and bridges.
• Iranian retaliation: Iranian forces launched strikes against targets across the region, including sites in Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Legal Concerns Over Infrastructure Targets

President Trump’s threat to target Iranian civilian infrastructure, such as power stations and bridges, has drawn sharp condemnation from international legal experts.

Oona Hathaway, a professor at Yale University and a prominent legal scholar, warned that such actions would constitute war crimes. "There is no statute of limitations on war crimes," Hathaway noted, suggesting that Trump’s social media posts could serve as "Exhibit A" in future international trials.

The Path Forward

Despite the ongoing violence, Pakistani sources remain cautiously optimistic. A source close to the negotiations told Al Jazeera that while "detractors within all camps" are attempting to sabotage a deal, a breakthrough remains possible until the final minute.

As the world watches the clock, Islamabad continues to push for a two-week window that could determine whether the region moves toward a fragile peace or an all-out catastrophic war.