US President Donald J. Trump said Wednesday that only one set of proposed terms is acceptable to the United States as it negotiates with Iran to solidify a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.

In a statement released by the White House, Trump declared there is “only one group of meaningful ‘POINTS’” the U.S. will discuss behind closed doors.

Those points, he said, formed the basis for the two-week truce announced late Tuesday.

On Thursday, AFP reported that the details of the 10-point plan proposed by Iran that were published was not the one agreed to by the US.

“There is only one group of meaningful ‘POINTS’ that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/PP4jlW8LAJ

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 8, 2026

The remarks came hours after Iran publicly released what it called a 10-point peace framework.

Trump had earlier described a 10-point Iranian proposal as “a workable basis on which to negotiate.”

White House officials, however, said the version published by Tehran did not match the terms privately conveyed to the US and aligned with Washington’s own 15-point plan sent to Iran in March.

Trump dismissed other circulating documents as the work of “fraudsters, charlatans, and WORSE” with no role in the talks.

He said they would be exposed after a federal investigation.

The ceasefire halted active fighting that had disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Details of the agreement remain largely secret.

Negotiations start Friday

Trump has said he expects formal negotiations to begin Friday and move “quickly”.

He has stressed no uranium enrichment by Iran and the removal of buried nuclear material, Reuters reported.

The truce has shown early signs of strain.

Confusion persists over whether it covers Lebanon, where Israeli strikes continued.

GN

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, on the first stop of a Gulf tour aimed at bolstering the ceasefire in the Middle East war, Downing Street said.

Starmer — on his first visit to the region since the US-Israeli war against Iran started on February 28 — was expected to meet Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, later Wednesday.

As the British leader’s arrival was being announced, the Gulf kingdom’s defence ministry said it had intercepted nine drones targeting Saudi territory in recent hours, despite the ceasefire agreed overnight between the US and Iran.

The ministry’s post on X did not mention the location of the interceptions or any potential targets. 

Earlier, Starmer welcomed the ceasefire deal, saying in a statement it “will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world”.

“Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.

Hours later, Starmer issued another joint statement with the leaders of Canada, Japan and various European countries, which said the goal must now be to negotiate an end to the war “within the coming days”. 

“This can only be achieved through diplomatic means,” their statement added. 

The UK leader’s Gulf tour follows a virtual meeting Tuesday of military planners from over 30 countries hosted by Britain.

It explored measures for an international coalition to make the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe after a ceasefire, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Last week, a UK-led diplomatic virtual meeting of around 40 countries also discussed the critical waterway.

It has been largely closed since the war began, impacting global supplies of oil, liquified natural gas, and fertiliser.

UK armed forces personnel have intercepted more than 110 drone attacks in the region during the hostilities, while the Royal Air Force (RAF) have conducted more than 1600 hours of defensive operations, the Downing Street statement added.

GN

After weeks of intense behind-the-scenes diplomacy, Pakistan has emerged as a central player in brokering a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, a breakthrough that diplomats say would not have been possible without Islamabad’s sustained efforts since the conflict began.

The two-week truce, announced on April 8, halts major hostilities in a war that has entered its sixth week and left a devastating humanitarian and economic toll across the region. According to official estimates and rights groups, more than 5,000 people have been killed in nearly a dozen countries, including over 1,600 civilians in Iran and more than 1,000 in Lebanon. Thousands more have been injured, while critical infrastructure including energy facilities, ports and transport networks, has suffered extensive damage.

I had a warm and substantive conversation with President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran, this afternoon.

I conveyed my deep appreciation for the wisdom and sagacity of the Iranian leadership in accepting Pakistan’s offer to host peace talks in Islamabad later this week to work…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 8, 2026

Announcing the breakthrough on X, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the United States and Iran, along with their allies, had agreed to an immediate ceasefire. “They have agreed to a ceasefire everywhere,” he said, adding that Pakistan would host the next phase of talks. “We welcome the delegations to Islamabad to negotiate a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes on April 10,” he said.

Big day

US President Donald Trump also confirmed the pause in hostilities, describing it as a step towards wider stability. “A big day for world peace,” he said, adding that both sides were ready to halt escalation. In a separate statement, he noted that the decision followed discussions with Pakistani leadership and was linked to reopening key maritime routes. “I agree to suspend the bombing … for a period of two weeks,” he said, calling it a “double-sided ceasefire.”

Pakistan’s military leadership also played a part. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held conversations with senior US officials, including President Donald Trump, diplomatic sources said, reinforcing civilian diplomatic efforts at a critical juncture.

Visible phase

The most visible phase of this effort came in late March, when Islamabad hosted a high-level meeting of foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt. Led by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the talks focused on de-escalation and laid the groundwork for a broader diplomatic push. Although immediate progress appeared limited, Pakistan quietly intensified its outreach in the days that followed.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior officials held conversations with more than a dozen world leaders across Washington, Beijing, Moscow, Europe and the Gulf, seeking consensus on a limited ceasefire as a first step. At the same time, Pakistan’s military leadership engaged US counterparts, reinforcing the civilian diplomatic initiative at a critical moment.

Ceasefire proposal

Parallel contacts with Iranian officials ensured that communication channels remained open, even as tensions escalated. By early April, Islamabad had formalised a ceasefire proposal, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities followed by a defined window for negotiations, along with confidence-building measures around key flashpoints such as maritime routes.

As pressure mounted and fears of a wider regional war grew with threats of escalation that could have engulfed multiple countries, the proposal began gaining traction. The eventual agreement, a two-week ceasefire tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reflected several elements of Pakistan’s framework.

Prime Minister Sharif announced that the truce would be followed by talks in Islamabad, inviting both US and Iranian delegations to begin negotiations on April 10. The capital is expected to host either direct or proximity talks, with Pakistan potentially acting as a go-between if face-to-face engagement proves difficult.

Analysts say Pakistan’s success lies in its ability to maintain trust across multiple fronts. Its close ties with regional players such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, combined with support from China, Iran’s key economic partner, helped build momentum for de-escalation. At the same time, its working relationship with Washington provided crucial leverage at a decisive stage.

Direct risk

Economic considerations also shaped Islamabad’s urgency. With heavy reliance on energy imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan faced direct risks from prolonged disruption including fuel shortages, rising import costs and additional strain on its economy.

Despite the breakthrough, challenges remain. Differences persist over regional security arrangements and the scope of the ceasefire, with conflicting interpretations on whether it extends to areas like Lebanon. The coming days of negotiations will be critical in determining whether the temporary truce can evolve into a lasting settlement.

For now, however, the ceasefire marks a significant diplomatic win for Islamabad, underscoring how sustained, quiet engagement can influence the trajectory of a fast-moving and high-stakes conflict, even as the human and economic costs of the war continue to mount.

GN