US President Donald Trump had been pushing for a temporary ceasefire with Iran since at least March, a report in the Financial Times revealed. Behind the scenes, the White House was quietly exploring a pause in fighting, with a focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route.
The diplomatic push culminated in a two-week ceasefire announced by the US, Iran, and Israel, just hours after Trump warned he could destroy Iran's "whole civilization" if his terms were not met.
According to the FT report, Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, played a crucial role in facilitating the back-channel diplomacy, with multiple proposals exchanged between the US and Iran.
The US and Pakistan believed Iran would be more receptive to the proposal if it came via a neutral channel, with Munir launching a flurry of calls to top US officials, including Trump, as tensions peaked.
