The White House quietly sought to broker a temporary ceasefire with Iran even as President Donald Trump publicly escalated his rhetoric, claiming Tehran was 'begging' for a deal. For weeks, Washington relied on Pakistan to act as an intermediary, believing its status as a Muslim-majority neighbour would make a truce proposal more acceptable to Iranian leaders.

Back-channel diplomacy led by Pakistan's army chief culminated in a two-week ceasefire announced by the United States, Iran and Israel. The breakthrough followed urgent calls between Pakistani and American officials and came shortly after Trump warned he could destroy Iran's 'whole civilisation' if it refused to comply. Rising oil prices and Iran's resilience reportedly pushed Washington to intensify efforts for a pause in hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Negotiations involved multiple proposals and counterproposals, with discussions over ceasefire terms and limits on Iran's uranium stockpile. However, divisions within Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps complicated approval, and regional tensions persisted, including drone strikes and ongoing clashes involving Iran-backed groups.

While Iran has agreed to send representatives to Islamabad for further talks, officials caution that numerous spoilers could derail the fragile process. Pakistan has also expressed concerns over elements of Iran's proposals, particularly regarding control of the strait, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire's durability.