As the two sides prepare to meet in person in Pakistan, analysts identify American leader’s miscalculations leading to weaker footing
5-MIN READ5-MIN ListenAlyssa ChenandFan ChenPublished: 11:00pm, 8 Apr 2026The United States boasts military superiority over Iran but has emerged as the strategic loser in the five-week conflict, with gains limited to a fragile two-week ceasefire and conditional passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to analysts.Shortly before US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to meet his demands or face destruction of its civilian infrastructure, the US and Iran entered a two-week ceasefire agreement mediated by Pakistan. Beijing reportedly intervened at the last minute to get Tehran to the negotiation table.Iranian and American delegations will meet in Islamabad on Friday for their first in-person dialogue since the war started on February 28, working from Iran’s 10-point peace proposal.
The plan was reportedly passed to the White House via Pakistan. The list published by Iranian state media included some conditions that Washington has previously rejected.
It included the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran, US military withdrawal from the Middle East, release of frozen Iranian assets and a UN Security Council resolution making any deal binding.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council framed the ceasefire as a “historic victory”, claiming the enemy had suffered an “undeniable and crushing defeat”.
US and Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire amid Pakistani mediation efforts
