In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation on Wednesday afternoon with Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran, ahead of scheduled negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Islamabad later this week.

The call, described as “warm and cordial” and lasting more than 45 minutes, highlighted Pakistan’s role in helping secure a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, following weeks of rising regional tensions.

During the conversation, Sharif expressed deep appreciation for the Iranian leadership’s wisdom in agreeing to the ceasefire and thanked Pezeshkian for accepting Pakistan’s offer to host the negotiations. He also conveyed his respects to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Pezeshkian, in turn, thanked Sharif and praised Pakistan’s efforts in mediating the ceasefire. He confirmed that Iran would participate in the upcoming talks and sent best wishes to the people of Pakistan. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

The Islamabad-hosted negotiations follow a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, aimed at preventing further escalation and stabilizing the region.

Pakistan has actively called for an end to hostilities, citing economic disruptions and security concerns. Tehran has agreed to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping during the ceasefire.

International observers see the Islamabad talks as a critical opportunity to transform a temporary pause into a lasting settlement.

While global leaders have cautiously welcomed the ceasefire, they stress that sustained diplomacy will be necessary to achieve long-term peace. Analysts note that significant hurdles remain, and the outcome of the talks will have broad implications for regional stability and global markets.

Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with the United States, in a move aimed at easing rising tensions and preventing further escalation in the region.

The agreement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that Washington would hold off on threatened attacks against Iranian infrastructure if Tehran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“I have agreed to back off attacks for two weeks, subject to Iran reopening the Strait,” Trump said, stepping back from earlier warnings that “a whole civilization will die tonight.”

The temporary truce was brokered by Pakistan, which has been acting as a key mediator between the two sides. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that the ceasefire would take effect immediately, raising hopes for a broader diplomatic breakthrough.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed that Tehran had accepted the ceasefire proposal, signaling a willingness to move toward de-escalation after weeks of conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country’s armed forces would facilitate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week period, provided attacks against Iran are halted.

“If aggression stops, our forces will ensure secure transit,” he said, referring to the vital shipping route through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.

The Strait of Hormuz had been closed by Iran in response to the conflict, triggering global concern over energy supplies and maritime security. Its reopening, even temporarily, is expected to ease pressure on international markets and reduce the risk of wider economic disruption.

The conflict, which escalated sharply in late February, has involved sustained strikes and heightened tensions across the Middle East. While the ceasefire marks a significant pause in hostilities, key issues remain unresolved, including sanctions, regional security arrangements, and the presence of U.S. forces.

Talks between Iran and the United States are expected to begin in the coming days, with Pakistan continuing to play a facilitation role. Analysts say the negotiations will be crucial in determining whether the temporary truce can evolve into a longer-term agreement.

Despite the breakthrough, observers caution that the situation remains fragile, and any renewed escalation could quickly undo the progress achieved through the ceasefire.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” amid growing confrontation with Iran and deepening instability across the region.

In a series of statements posted on social media, Trump issued a direct ultimatum to Tehran, demanding that Iran reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz or face severe consequences. “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will… we will find out tonight,” he said, describing the moment as one of the most significant in modern history.

The warning follows earlier remarks in which Trump threatened that Iran would be “living in hell” if it failed to comply with U.S. demands.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but critical waterway, carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making it a focal point of global economic and security concerns.

A senior Iranian source meanwhile told Reuters on Tuesday afternoon that Tehran would not show flexibility as long as Washington continues to demand its “surrender under pressure.”

The source, who asked not to be named, said Qatar on Monday had conveyed Tehran’s message to the United States and regional countries that if Washington attacks Iran’s power plants, “the entire region and Saudi Arabia will fall into complete darkness with Iran’s retaliatory strikes”.

He said what the U.S. wants is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran will not open it in exchange for empty promises.

He also warned that “if the situation gets out of control, Iran’s allies will also close the Bab El-Mandeb Strait” – a crucial 30-km wide maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It is located between the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen) and the Horn of Africa (Djibouti and Eritrea).

The escalating rhetoric comes against the backdrop of an intensifying conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has been ongoing since late February. Iran has continued to launch attacks across the region, claiming to target U.S. interests, a justification widely rejected by the international community.

Meanwhile, Qatar has warned that the situation is approaching a dangerous tipping point. Speaking in Doha, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said the region is “very close” to an uncontrollable escalation.

“We have been warning since 2023 that escalation left unchecked will get us into a situation where it cannot be controlled,” Al-Ansari said, urging all parties to pursue an immediate resolution to the conflict. “There are no winners if this war continues,” he added.

Qatar has previously acted as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, though officials say it is not currently engaged in active negotiations. Nevertheless, Doha has expressed support for ongoing diplomatic efforts, including initiatives led by Pakistan, to de-escalate tensions.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance also issued a warning, stating that Washington still has additional measures at its disposal if Iran fails to respond to diplomatic overtures. He indicated that the United States expects a response from Tehran within hours.

Al-Ansari emphasized that any future agreement must involve regional stakeholders and include international guarantees, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz. “Hormuz is a natural strait, not a canal, and all countries in the region have the right to use it freely,” he said.

Analysts warn that continued escalation could have far-reaching consequences, not only for regional stability but also for global energy markets and international security, as fears grow that the conflict could spiral into a broader confrontation.