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In the tense hours before a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced in the early hours of Wednesday, talks were reportedly on the verge of collapse. According to four Pakistani sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, as reported by Reuters, the mediation effort was "hours from collapse" when Pakistan mounted a final, overnight push to bring Washington and Tehran to the table.

The breakthrough came after a day of escalating threats and military strikes that had pushed the region to the brink. US President Donald Trump had warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran did not agree to his demands by an 8pm Eastern Time deadline. Hours earlier, Iranian strikes had hit a critical Saudi Arabian petrochemical complex in Jubail, prompting fury in Riyadh and fears that Saudi Arabia might enter the war—a scenario that would have triggered Pakistan's defence pact with the kingdom.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the ceasefire on X, inviting both sides to meet in Islamabad on Friday, 10 April 2026. Talks are scheduled to begin on Saturday, with the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance.

Coverage Comparison

The ceasefire was reported across international media, with ABC Australia, the BBC, Dawn, The Guardian, and the Jerusalem Post all carrying the story. While all outlets confirmed the basic details—the two-week truce, Pakistan's role as mediator, and the upcoming talks in Islamabad—their coverage varied in emphasis.

The BBC highlighted the precariousness of the negotiations, quoting a Pakistani source who said the mood was "sombre and serious but still hopeful." The source described a "very small circle" conducting the talks and noted that an agreement was far from certain.

Dawn, Pakistan's leading English-language daily, framed the ceasefire as a historic diplomatic achievement, with one columnist declaring it "the single biggest day in the life of our country." An editorial praised the "quiet distinction" of Pakistan's foreign service and the leadership of Prime Minister Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The Guardian focused on the behind-the-scenes drama, reporting that in a cabinet meeting just hours before the ceasefire, Sharif told his ministers, "We should brace ourselves for the impact of the war... The chance of peace has become dim."

Reuters, which had extensive access to Pakistani sources, provided the most detailed account of the final hours, describing "intense, breathless" negotiations during which "the talks were almost dead."

The Jerusalem Post, with its focus on Israel, carried the story but with less detail on Pakistan's role, instead emphasizing the strategic implications for the region.

Key Claims

Several key claims emerge from the coverage, many of which are consistent across sources:
  • Pakistan's central role: All sources agree that Pakistan acted as the main intermediary between the US and Iran, passing messages and proposals. The Pakistani army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was in continuous contact with US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iran's foreign minister through the night before the ceasefire.
  • Last-minute collapse and recovery: Reuters reports that the talks nearly unraveled after Iran's strike on the Saudi petrochemical facility. One source said "the talks were almost dead" before a final push secured Iran's agreement to a temporary ceasefire without preconditions.
  • US pressure and threats: Trump had set a deadline for Iran to surrender, threatening to wipe out an "entire civilisation." Multiple sources quote this language, and analysts noted it echoed nuclear threats.
  • China's involvement: Several reports indicate that China played a key role in convincing Iran to accept the ceasefire, with China acting as a guarantor of Iran's safety and promising that Iranian leaders would not be assassinated if they travelled for negotiations. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had flown to Beijing to discuss ways to secure peace and ask for a bigger commitment from China.
  • Iran's conditions: Iran put forward a 10-point framework, which Trump said offered a "workable basis" for negotiations. The framework reportedly includes recognition of Iran's sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, a demand likely to be unacceptable to Washington, as well as the right to pursue nuclear energy and strike bilateral defence deals with regional states.
  • Disputed details: There is disagreement over whether Iran has fully agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Iran had agreed to allow ships to pass freely, but Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said any transit would be coordinated with Iran's armed forces, and one analyst noted that Iran's acceptance remains "conditional."
The ceasefire does not include any commitment to permanently end the war, compensate Iran, or lift sanctions, and it does not extend to Lebanon, where Israel is continuing strikes.

Perspectives

The ceasefire has been met with cautious optimism but also significant skepticism.
  • Pakistan's perspective: Pakistani officials and commentators view the ceasefire as a major diplomatic victory. Michael Kugelman, South Asia fellow at the Atlantic Council, described it as Pakistan's "biggest diplomatic win in years." The country's leadership has emphasized the delicate balancing act required to keep Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the US onside.
  • US perspective: The White House announced the ceasefire as a victory, with Trump claiming Iran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, US officials have been careful not to overstate the deal, noting that negotiations are ongoing. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Iran had "begged" for the ceasefire, a claim not independently verified.
  • Iranian perspective: Iran has framed the ceasefire as a recognition of its strength. Foreign Minister Araghchi has emphasized that any transit through the Strait of Hormuz will be coordinated with Iran's armed forces, and Tehran's 10-point framework includes demands that are likely to be contentious. Iranian sources indicated that Tehran had rejected an earlier proposal for a temporary ceasefire before agreeing to this one.
  • Israeli perspective: Israel is reported to have opposed a deal with Iran, believing more could be achieved militarily, but ultimately decided to support any decision taken by Trump. The ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, where Israel continues military operations.
  • Regional concerns: There are fears that Israel and the UAE could try to sabotage the peace process, according to Pakistani officials. The UAE demanded its deposits back from Pakistan in the middle of the diplomacy, causing a drain on foreign exchange reserves.
  • Saudi Arabia's position: Riyadh was reportedly furious over the Iranian strike on its petrochemical facility. Pakistan's military and civilian leadership condemned the strikes to reassure Riyadh, and the defence pact between the two countries remains a key factor in the region's calculations.

Outlook

The ceasefire is a fragile one, and the upcoming talks in Islamabad will be critical. The two-week truce provides a window for negotiations, but significant obstacles remain, including Iran's conditions on the Strait of Hormuz, the question of uranium enrichment, and the lack of any commitment to a permanent end to the war. As one Pakistani official told Reuters, "We were in a very fragile situation and desperate for negotiations to begin." The world will be watching to see if this last-ditch diplomatic effort can hold.