Pakistan Brokers US-Iran Peace Deal Amid Naval Blockade

The Government of Pakistan is attempting to broker a new understanding between the United States and Iran as a 60-day peace framework established in June nears expiration. This diplomatic effort follows a period of instability involving a US-Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent retaliatory strikes from Tehran. While President Donald Trump has indicated a shift toward a more low-key approach to lower regional temperatures, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on August 13 that the U.S. military can maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports indefinitely.

Regional tensions have severely impacted maritime security. Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz collapsed from over 130 vessels daily to just six on August 10. Additionally, an explosion on a Russia-linked tanker has created a 400 square kilometer oil spill currently approaching the coast of Oman.

Within Iran, Mohammad Reza Naghdi, a senior adviser to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, suggested a strategy of attrition, proposing that prolonging the war until the next U.S. presidency in 2029 could wear down adversaries. Meanwhile, Iran is seeking deeper security ties with China, reportedly using a Chinese reconnaissance satellite to target U.S. bases. In neighboring Iraq, the federal government is considering using force to disarm Iranian-backed militias by September 30.