Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Sunday that Pakistan has received Iran’s response to a United States proposal intended to bring an end to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Speaking at an event commemorating the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq in Islamabad, the prime minister revealed that he had been briefed on the development. “Field Marshal Asim Munir informed me that we have received Iran’s response, but I cannot disclose further details at this time,” he stated.
This announcement followed reports from Iranian media indicating that Tehran had sent its reply to the US peace proposal through Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator. The response reportedly focuses on ending the war, although specific details have not yet been made public.
Meanwhile, despite a brief period of relative calm after sporadic clashes last week, hostile drone activity was detected over several Gulf countries on Sunday, highlighting the persistent security threats in the region even after a month-long ceasefire. The US proposal aims to formally conclude the war before addressing more complex issues, such as Iran’s nuclear program.
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China this week, intensifying pressure to resolve the conflict that has triggered a global energy crisis and poses escalating risks to the world economy. However, diplomatic efforts to break the stalemate have yet to alleviate threats to vital shipping lanes and regional economies.
On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates intercepted two drones originating from Iran, while Qatar condemned a drone strike on a cargo ship arriving from Abu Dhabi within its territorial waters. Kuwait also reported that its air defenses neutralized hostile drones that entered its airspace.
Tehran has largely restricted non-Iranian vessels from passing through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, which previously handled one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and has become a focal point of pressure in the conflict. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who discussed Pakistan’s mediation efforts with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Miami on Saturday, warned Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi against using the strait as a leverage tool. He emphasized that freedom of navigation must be preserved, a statement from the Qatari foreign ministry, though the exact date of the call was not disclosed.
In response, Iranian lawmakers are reportedly drafting legislation to formalize Iran’s control over the strait, including provisions that would bar passage to vessels from “hostile states.” Recent days have witnessed the most intense clashes in and around the strait since the ceasefire mediated by Pakistan began a month ago. The UAE suffered renewed attacks on Friday, and sporadic confrontations between Iranian forces and US vessels have been reported in the area.
Last month, Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ships, but Tehran has delayed responding to calls for ending the conflict, which remains unpopular among US voters facing rising gasoline prices. A CIA assessment suggested Iran could withstand the economic impact of the US blockade for approximately four more months, though a senior intelligence official dismissed claims about the analysis as inaccurate.
The US has struggled to gain international backing for its stance in the conflict, with NATO allies declining to send naval forces to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without a comprehensive peace agreement and an internationally authorized mission. After meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday, Rubio questioned why Italy and other allies are not supporting efforts to secure the strait, warning that allowing Tehran control over this international waterway could set a dangerous precedent.
Notably, Britain, collaborating with France on a plan to ensure safe passage through the strait once stability returns, announced on Saturday the deployment of a warship to the Middle East in preparation for a potential multinational mission.
