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With just one day before the deadline for airstrikes on power facilities warned by US President Donald Trump, the United States and Iran have received a two-phase mediation plan calling for "a ceasefire followed by an end to hostilities." According to Reuters on the 6th (local time), mediator Pakistan proposed a two-phase approach in which both countries would observe a 45-day ceasefire and complete end-of-war negotiations during that period. A source described it as "a memorandum of understanding format using Pakistan as a communication channel."
A day earlier, Axios reported that the US and Iran were discussing a two-phase negotiation plan, dubbed the "Islamabad Accord," under the mediation of Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye. The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a comprehensive agreement to be reached within 15 to 20 days.
The development drew market attention as it came after President Trump extended the negotiation deadline by one day, from the 6th to 8 p.m. on the 7th (9 a.m. on the 8th, Korea time). However, Iran maintains that no agreement is possible without a permanent end to hostilities that includes guarantees against recurrence. An Iranian government official said, "We are not open to a temporary ceasefire."
'Immediate Ceasefire, Immediate Hormuz Reopening' Mediation Plan… Iran Says "US Not Ready for End of War"
The "Islamabad Accord" proposed by mediating nations appears designed to first secure a ceasefire, then work toward a final end-of-war agreement reflecting the demands of the US, Israel, and Iran, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The final agreement could potentially include the easing of sanctions on Iran, the release of frozen assets, Iran's abandonment of nuclear weapons development, and a reduction in ballistic missile range. However, Iran, which controls the strait, is seeking to strengthen its negotiating leverage. Mediating nations including Pakistan and Japan are conducting intense diplomatic efforts, but Iran has maintained a hardline stance, viewing both the temporary ceasefire proposal and the US peace plan negatively. Meanwhile, analysts note that the Strait of Hormuz continues to see limited traffic under Iran's oversight, making either full reopening or a complete blockade difficult.
