Iran has hailed Pakistan’s leadership for brokering a fragile diplomatic breakthrough with the United States, as a two-week ceasefire takes effect amid sharp declines in global oil prices and cautious optimism for de-escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
In a carefully worded statement, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, expressed “gratitude and appreciation” to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir for what he described as “tireless efforts” to end the war and create space for dialogue.
The acknowledgment signals Islamabad’s growing diplomatic weight, positioning it as a central mediator at a time when tensions between Washington and Tehran had reached dangerous levels.
Yet even as the ceasefire takes hold, Iran’s most powerful security body has made it clear that the truce is neither a concession nor a conclusion, but rather a calculated pause in a broader strategic contest.
The two-week ceasefire, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, provides for a suspension of American airstrikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, alongside a reciprocal halt to Iranian military operations.
Trump described the arrangement as a “double-sided ceasefire,” contingent on Iran ensuring the safe and immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane.
Tehran has agreed in principle, but with conditions that underscore its insistence on sovereignty and control. Araghchi confirmed that safe passage would be permitted during the ceasefire period, but strictly through coordination with Iran’s armed forces and within defined technical parameters.
The nuance is significant. While the announcement eased global fears, it also reaffirmed Iran’s position as the ultimate gatekeeper of the narrow waterway through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
The immediate impact was felt in global energy markets. Brent crude prices plunged by more than 16 percent, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped over 18 percent in early trading, reflecting investor optimism that a prolonged supply disruption might be avoided.
However, beneath the market reaction lies lingering uncertainty. Shipping companies are still awaiting clarity on operational protocols, while insurers remain cautious indicating that the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz may take time to materialize in practical terms.
More revealing than the ceasefire itself has been the messaging from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which has framed the development as a strategic victory rather than a compromise.
In a lengthy statement, the Council declared that the United States had suffered a “historic and crushing defeat,” claiming Washington had been forced to accept Iran’s 10-point proposal as the basis for negotiations.
At the same time, the Council issued a firm warning that the ceasefire does not signal the end of hostilities.
“This does not mean the end of the war,” the statement emphasized, adding that negotiations are merely “a continuation of the battlefield” through political means.
The Council further cautioned that Iran’s military remains fully prepared.
“Our hands are on the trigger, and any mistake by the enemy will be met with full force,” it said, underscoring the fragile nature of the truce.
This dual messaging projecting victory at home while maintaining vigilance abroad reflects Tehran’s effort to balance domestic expectations with the realities of high-stakes diplomacy.
At the heart of the negotiations is Iran’s ambitious 10-point proposal, which Tehran insists has now been accepted as the framework for talks.
The plan calls for sweeping changes, including U.S. commitments to non-aggression, recognition of Iran’s uranium enrichment programme, lifting of all sanctions, and the withdrawal of American forces from the region.
It also includes demands for compensation for war damages, termination of international resolutions targeting Iran, and formal recognition of Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s leadership has portrayed these demands not as negotiating positions, but as rights secured through what it describes as battlefield resilience.
The upcoming talks in Islamabad have placed Pakistan at the centre of global diplomacy.
Sharif’s earlier appeal for a two-week pause coupled with calls for reciprocal goodwill measures, appears to have broken the deadlock between Washington and Tehran. He later confirmed that delegations from both countries will meet in Islamabad on April 10 to pursue a comprehensive agreement.
The talks are expected to include senior U.S. officials, signaling the importance Washington attaches to the process despite lingering skepticism.
Even as diplomacy gains momentum, divisions persist. Israel has refused to extend the ceasefire to its operations in Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintaining that those operations will continue.
The stance has drawn criticism from regional actors, including Egypt, which argues that any meaningful de-escalation must include a halt across all fronts of the conflict.
Within Israel, opposition voices have also questioned the broader strategic outcome, suggesting the ceasefire may not reflect a clear resolution of underlying tensions.
International reactions have been mixed. In Moscow, Dmitry Medvedev described Washington’s willingness to engage with Iran’s proposal as a sign of Tehran’s leverage, though he expressed doubt that the United States would accept its more far-reaching demands.
China, meanwhile, is reportedly positioning itself as a potential guarantor of the negotiations, highlighting the broader geopolitical stakes surrounding the process.
For now, the ceasefire has created a narrow window for diplomacy but both sides have made it clear the pause is temporary.
Trump has warned of renewed military action if no agreement is reached within the two-week timeframe, while Tehran has emphasized it remains prepared for escalation.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council perhaps put it most succinctly: the conflict has not ended, it has simply shifted arenas.
As negotiations begin in Islamabad, the coming days will determine whether this fragile truce evolves into a lasting settlement or collapses under the weight of competing demands and deep-seated mistrust.
For Iran, the narrative is one of strength and strategic patience. For the United States, it is a calculated pause. For Pakistan, a moment of diplomatic prominence.
And for the world, it is a reminder that even in the shadow of conflict, diplomacy however fragile remains the only path to lasting peace.
