Pakistan requests two-week extension to U.S. ultimatum for Iran

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has requested that U.S. President Donald Trump extend his ultimatum to Iran by two weeks. The original deadline, set for 8 p.m. EDT, requires Iran to end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with President Trump threatening to destroy all Iranian bridges and power plants if the demand is not met. Prime Minister Sharif proposed that in exchange for the deadline extension, Iran should open the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture. Additionally, Sharif urged all warring parties to observe a two-week global ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic negotiations to reach a conclusive end to the conflict. A senior Iranian official stated that Tehran is positively reviewing the proposal. The White House has acknowledged the request, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming that a response is forthcoming. While Pakistan has been acting as a mediator, no official compromise has been reached between Washington and Tehran thus far.