Pakistan and Qatar Secure Interim U.S.-Iran Deal to Ease Hormuz Blockades

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a 14-point memorandum in the early hours of Monday aimed at ending the war and competing blockades of the Strait of Hormuz. The interim agreement followed weeks of negotiations that nearly collapsed several times, including on the final Sunday night.

Shehbaz Sharif told parliament later that day there were many moments when the process looked as if it would grind to a halt.

Five Pakistani sources said the announcement came after talks nearly collapsed several times, including on the final night. Two of those sources and a diplomat briefed on the negotiations said Qatar stepped in to secure the framework deal. Qatar's team made five discreet trips to Tehran, often via Turkey, to close gaps in Pakistani drafts.

U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz became one of the sharpest disputes soon after the first round of talks in early April. At the end of May, President Donald Trump called for Iran and Pakistan to join the Abraham Accords and normalise relations with Israel.

Doha became more directly involved in mid-May after talks had stalled for about 10 days and military escalation seemed increasingly likely. Qatar agreed to step in only if a ceasefire held and it was not attacked. U.S. Officials and made edits to the text while calling Iranian counterparts from inside the White House.

m. on Sunday in Pakistan, with officials gathered at the prime minister's house and in a situation room, the talks were again falling apart after Israel attacked Lebanon.

Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir passed messages between the two sides through the night. " Four Pakistani sources said Trump's shifting public statements repeatedly complicated the effort. U.S. Attacks weakened its leadership structure. An international source said messages get passed through many hands and then come back days later due to Iranian information security practices.