Pakistan asks Trump to postpone his ultimatum to Iran for two weeks

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, a key mediator in the Middle East war, asked US President Donald Trump on Wednesday to extend his ultimatum to Iran by two weeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. AFP "Diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, vigorously, and decisively, with the possibility of yielding substantial results in the near future," Shehbaz Sharif said in a message posted on the X platform. "For diplomacy to run its course, I urge President Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks," he added. The call comes just hours before Trump's ultimatum to Iran expires at midnight GMT. The president further hardened his tone on Tuesday by threatening to eradicate "an entire civilization" if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In his statement, Sharif urged Iran to open this strategic passage for the global supply of oil and gas, "for a period of two weeks as a gesture of goodwill."