Diplomatic efforts to end Iran war face new roadblocks

Source: MS NOW News

Apr. 4, 2026, 4:05 PM EDT


ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Diplomatic efforts to end the U.S. war with Iran that once showed tentative promise are now facing mounting distrust, conflicting goals and a lack of credible intermediaries, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.

Pakistan has emerged as an unlikely would-be peace broker, stepping into a vacuum left by more traditional mediators. But its efforts have yet to gain traction and the Trump administration’s diplomatic strategy remains unclear.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump reissued an ultimatum for Iran to unilaterally agree to U.S. terms and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping by Monday. “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” Trump said in a social media post.

Three Persian Gulf officials told MS NOW that attempts by Pakistan to broker a ceasefire have largely amounted to indirect exchanges rather than substantive negotiations, with no senior envoys shuttling between capitals or any formal framework for talks taking shape.

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