Beijing: President Donald Trump said the ceasefire announced between the United States and Iran — in an effort to open diplomatic channels and seek a full resolution of hostilities in West Asia — was agreed “as a favour to Pakistan,” which has been mediating talks between Washington and Tehran. He added that other countries had also urged the pause, ANI reported.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew from Beijing to Anchorage after a two‑day visit to China, Trump said wider international pressure helped prompt the truce. “We really did the ceasefire at the request of other nations. I wouldn’t have really been in favour of it, but we did it as a favour to Pakistan. They are terrific, the Field Marshal and the Prime Minister. I mean, President Xi and I agree on many things,” he said.
Trump said he did not ask Xi Jinping for any personal favours to pressure Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, but added that China could still push Tehran to act. “He [Xi Jinping] can ask them to put pressure because I don’t need favours. I think he will. I think automatically he’d like to see it [Hormuz] opened up. He gets about 40 per cent of his energy, or his oil, from the Strait. We get none,” Trump said.
A Pause After Strikes
The ceasefire was announced on April 7, following a month of intense hostilities that followed US‑Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Pakistan has positioned itself publicly as a mediator in efforts to secure a comprehensive settlement.
Trump said the United States may still conduct limited follow‑up actions after the ceasefire. “I’m not asking for any favours because when you ask for favours, you have to do favours in return. We don’t need favours. We’ve wiped out their [Iran’s] armed forces essentially. We may have to do a little cleanup work because we had a little month-long ceasefire, but we have a blockade that’s so effective; that’s why we did the ceasefire,” he said.
Some US officials are scrutinising Pakistan’s role as mediator, questioning whether Islamabad has been fully transparent in passing messages. Trump dismissed Iran’s reply to his peace overture, which Pakistan relayed to Washington.
According to CNN, some people close to Trump have raised doubts about Pakistan’s role as mediator. The report adds US officials are investigating whether Islamabad has downplayed the president’s “displeasure” and presented a rosier version of Iran’s position than is accurate.
