US desperate for ceasefire? Trump forced Pakistan to broker temporary truce with Iran

For weeks, the Trump administration relied on Pakistan to act as an intermediary, urging it to persuade Iran to agree to a pause in hostilities that would allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Islamabad’s role as a Muslim-majority neighbour was seen as key to making the proposal acceptable to Tehran. Back-channel diplomacy spearheaded by Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir culminated late Tuesday with the US, Iran and Israel announcing a two-week ceasefire.