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Pakistan calls for restraint from US, Iran after ceasefire violations reported ‘across the conflict zone’

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by Max Rego - 04/08/26 2:46 PM ET

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by Max Rego - 04/08/26 2:46 PM ET

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Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday that “violations” of the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran have occurred “across the conflict zone” and urged the parties to exercise restraint.

“Violations of ceasefire have been reported at few places across the conflict zone which undermine the spirit of peace process,” Sharif wrote on the social platform X. “I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict.”

Sharif tagged President Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

A major dispute is already emerging over Lebanon, after Israel launched waves of airstrikes on Beirut and other cities Wednesday.

In announcing the deal, Sharif said the ceasefire included Lebanon. However, Trump told “PBS NewsHour” on Wednesday that Lebanon was not part of the deal. Iranian state media has cited officials threatening to call off the deal and close the Strait of Hormuz if the fighting in Lebanon continues.

Lebanon’s health ministry said that Israel’s attacks had killed 112 people and wounded another 837 as of Wednesday morning EDT.

Gulf countries also reported that Iranian attacks continued through the day.

The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates said it engaged 17 ballistic missiles and 35 unmanned aerial vehicles from Iran on Wednesday, attacks that resulted in three injuries.

⁠Kuwait and Saudi Arabia said their air defenses intercepted a wave of Iranian drones Wednesday morning, while Qatar said it shot down seven missiles and several drones from Iran.

The U.S. and Iran agreed to halt hostilities for two weeks on Tuesday, less than two hours before Trump’s 8 p.m. EDT deadline for the Iranian military to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier in the day, the president threatened that a “whole civilization will die” in Iran if the regime did not comply with his demands.

After speaking to Sharif and Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, Trump said Tuesday that he decided to “hold off on the destructive force being sent tonight” to Iran, subject to the government there agreeing to the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, also said Tuesday that the Iranian armed forces “will cease their defensive operations” if attacks against the country are “halted.”

“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations,” Araghchi wrote on behalf of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.

Pope Leo XIV was among those to praise the ceasefire, writing on X, “I welcome with satisfaction—and as a sign of living hope—the announcement of an immediate two-week truce.“

“Only by returning to negotiations can the war come to an end,“ the first American pontiff added.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also wrote on X late Tuesday that it “supports” Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks but noted that the ceasefire does not apply to its strikes in Lebanon.

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