Washington, May 15, 2026 — US President Donald Trump said he agreed to a ceasefire with Iran as a “favor” to Pakistan and ruled out further bombing of the country, which has been at odds with the United States for decades.
The conflict between the US, Israel and Iran began on February 28. Hostilities have been paused since April 8, after the combatants accepted a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One while returning from China, Trump said the pause was granted at Pakistan’s request.
“We did the ceasefire as a request from another nation. I would have really benefited from it, but we did it as a favor to Pakistan. They are terrific people, the Field Marshal and the Prime Minister,” he said.
Trump reiterated that he would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and said Washington wants Tehran to relinquish the enriched uranium it has accumulated. He added that Iranian negotiators told US officials their nuclear facilities had been damaged by US air strikes and that they lacked the technology, time and experience to remove the fuel.
Trump also said Chinese President Xi Jinping supported reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for about 20 percent of global oil shipments.
US Vice President J.D. Vance led a US negotiating team for the first-ever direct, face-to-face talks with Iranian leaders in Islamabad on April 11–12, a step that helped bring the two sides into extended negotiations aimed at ending decades of hostilities.
