Trump Extends Iran Energy-Strike Pause 10 More Days; Pakistan Publicly Confirms Mediation Role

President Trump extended the pause on US strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure by another 10 days on March 26–27, 2026, setting a new deadline of April 6 — the third such extension since the war began on February 28. Trump cited Iran allowing at least eight oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as a positive 'present.' Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar publicly confirmed for the first time that Pakistan is serving as a conduit for indirect US-Iran communications, writing on X: 'US-Iran indirect talks are taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan.' Iran's officials continued to publicly deny any negotiations, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating Tehran is 'not in negotiations with the US.' A TIME analysis published March 27 warned experts believe Iran now views nuclear weapons as the only guarantee of regime survival given the degradation of its conventional forces. Secretary of State Rubio traveled to France for the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Cernay-la-Ville with Iran as the primary agenda item, saying 'some concrete progress has been made.'