ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Monday that the peace process between the US and Iran is “ongoing,” refusing to elaborate further as the US-Israel war on Iran continues, with neither side letting up.
Andrabi was responding to reports by Reuters and the American news website Axios. Reuters said on Monday, citing a source, that Pakistan had put together a framework to end hostilities and exchanged it with Iran and the US overnight. The source told Reuters that Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was in contact “all night long” with US Vice President J.D. Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqhchi.
The report said that the proposal entails an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with 15–20 days to finalize a broader settlement. The deal, tentatively dubbed the “Islamabad Accord,” would include a regional framework for the strait, with final in-person talks in Islamabad, the report added.
Axios reported on Sunday that the US, Iran and regional mediators were discussing a potential 45-day ceasefire as part of a two-phase deal that could lead to a permanent end to the war, citing US, Israeli and regional sources.
“Regarding reports of a 45-day ceasefire or a 15-point exchange, we do not comment on such specifics,” Andrabi told Arab News in response to a question.
“Our position remains that the peace process is ongoing.”
Pakistan has been relaying messages between Tehran and Washington in efforts to broker a ceasefire between the warring sides.
The Reuters report also said that an Iranian official confirmed Tehran had received Pakistan’s proposal for an immediate ceasefire and was reviewing it, adding that Tehran does not accept being pressured to accept deadlines and make a decision.
Iran’s forces have effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane — a vital conduit for oil and gas — and have struck economic targets in Gulf countries that Tehran claims are linked to the US-Israeli war effort.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to extend by 24 hours his deadline for Iran to make a deal to reopen the strait or face devastating infrastructure attacks.
“Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” the American president wrote on his Truth Social platform, refusing to elaborate further.
The new deadline, 0000 GMT Wednesday, would mean another day for Tehran to attempt to placate Trump or risk him following through on a threat to destroy the country’s power plants and bridges.
