EPAPER LIVE TV DAWNNEWS URDU IMAGES HERALD AURORA CITYFM89 ADVERTISE EVENTS SUPPLEMENTS CAREERS OBITUARIES

E-PAPER | MAY 08, 2026

HOME LATEST VIOLATIONS TRACKER IRAN-ISRAEL WAR PAKISTAN OPINION BUSINESS IMAGES PRISM WORLD SPORT BREATHE MAGAZINES TECH VIDEOS POPULA SEARCH

A breakthrough?
Editorial | Published May 7, 2026 | Updated a day ago 0

LISTEN TO ARTICLE 0:00 / 3:03 1x 1.2x 1.5x

COMMENTS JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL ADD DAWN AS A TRUSTED SOURCE

IT appears that despite confrontational rhetoric from both sides, a more long-
term agreement on cessation of hostilities between the US and Iran may be
within reach.

Matters had heated up on Monday in what US President Donald Trump called “a little
skirmish” between his country and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, while the UAE was also
rocked by alleged Iranian attacks. However, soon after these events there were signs of de-
escalation, as Mr Trump said that the so-called Project Freedom — under which the US was
supposed to escort vessels through Hormuz — was wound up in just about 24 hours.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly said that Operation Epic Fury, the codename
of the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran launched on Feb 28, had also ended. Mr Trump said
BRANDED CONTENT
he had paused the Hormuz operation because of requests made by Pakistan and other Indus Cloud Limited, Indus DC REIT and
UBL form strategic partnership to
countries. In reaction to the American move, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan accelerate Pakistan’s digital
infrastructure and cloud adoption
remains committed to the diplomatic process.
This collaboration marks a significant step toward
strengthening the country’s digital backbone and
While all these developments are positive, Mr RELATED
locally hosted cloud services for enterprises and
An asymmetrical war public sector organisations.
Trump has refused to lift the blockade on
Iranian ships, while adding later that if Iran
fails to agree to a deal, “the bombing starts”. It is difficult to ascertain what the American
leadership’s actual plan is: small steps to pave the way for peace, or more bluster and
threats that will inevitably lead to reigniting the war?

For the sake of regional and global peace, it is certainly hoped that it is the former. Some
observers have said that any possible deal will initially focus on lifting the mutual blockade
of Hormuz, and that other issues, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, will be discussed later.
The whole international community will certainly welcome the reopening of Hormuz, as
global commerce has been rattled by its closure, with ordinary people particularly feeling
the pain at the petrol pump, as their wallets are squeezed further.

In a related development, Iranian Foreign RELATED

A long war?
Minister Abbas Araghchi was in China on
Wednesday to meet his counterpart Wang Yi.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump is due in Beijing next week. It is possible that China is working
behind the scenes to convince both the US and Iran to settle the issue peacefully. China has
a strong interest in seeing maritime commerce restored in the Gulf, and has significant
economic ties with both the US and Iran, placing it in a position to push for peace.

The whole world would welcome an end to this pointless war. The US needs to lift its
blockade of Iranian ports, and give Tehran sanctions relief and other CBMs, particularly a
commitment not to attack it again, so that there can be a genuine move towards peace. And
Iran, for its part, must ensure free movement to facilitate stable energy supplies.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.

Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out
to us at feedback@[Link].

US IRAN RIFT ISRAEL IRAN CONFLICT

0
NEWSPAPER

Read more

Dar says Pakistan's focus Trump pauses effort to A long war?

is now on making US- escort ships in Strait of
Iran ceasefire Hormuz, citing deal
permanent progress

Comments

Name Email

Your Comment

500 CHARACTERS COMMENT MOD POLICY

SUBMIT

Most Popular
Pakistan Army cadet gets top honours at India says Pakistani players can visit for Trump pauses effort to escort ships in
01 02 03
Australian military college multilateral events but bilateral Strait of Hormuz, citing deal progress
competitions ​r emain off table

Paigham-i-Islam Conference awards An asymmetrical war 'It is suffocating': Indian crackdown in

04 title of ‘Greatest Victorious General of
05 06 occupied Kashmir has even forced the
the Century’ to CDF Asim Munir valley's poets into silence

The May war Next India-Pakistan conflict may be AI guardrails

07 08 ‘more dangerous’, analysts warn
09

Latest Stories

US and Iran exchange fire, JUI-F dissatisfied with police Senate passes resolution Battery storage system is Babar out injured as Pakistan Sinner demands ‘respect’
but Trump says ceasefire still probe into cleric’s killing in lauding courage, sacrifices of missing link in Pakistan’s eye Test redemption against from Grand Slams in prize
in effect Charsadda armed forces on Marka-i- solar revolution, experts say Bangladesh money row
Haq anniversary

Opinion

Myth of merit and inclusion

Faisal Bari 08 May, 2026 08 May, 2026 Updated 08 May, 2026 07 May, 2026
A narrow construction of merit is not merely a Karachi mass transit: a pipe Concept of ‘zikr’ The case for peace Layers of climate resilience
denial of inclusion; it is a denial of merit itself. dream
Syed Ali Imran Aasim Sajjad Akhtar Ali Tauqeer Sheikh
Mohammad Younus Dagha

Editorial
Updated 08 May, 2026 08 May, 2026 08 May, 2026 07 May, 2026 07 May, 2026 07 May, 2026

Shifting climate tone Honour and impunity No real change Missed opportunity Punishing dissent
A breakthrough?
Our financial system is geared
THE Sindh Assembly’s THE Indian sports ministry’s A BIG opportunity to THE Sindh government’s
towards short-term, risk-
discussion on karo-kari this move to allow Pakistani The whole world would industrialise Pakistan has just treatment of the Aurat March
averse lending, while climate
week reminds us of the players and teams to welcome an end to this passed us by. This has been this week was a disgraceful
adaptation and green
enduring nature of ‘honour’ participate in multilateral pointless war. reconfirmed by the assault on democratic rights.
infrastructure require patient,
killings... events ... investment... What...
long-term capital.

DAWN NEWS ENGLISH PODCASTS Subscribe

Pakistan’s Climate Finance Crisis Is Pakistan Falling Behind on AI How Climate Change Is Forcing PSL 2026 Final Breakdown: How Iran Disrupted the World’s
Explained Governance? Rural Migration in Pakistan Peshawar Zalmi Crowned Oil
Champions

‹ ›

CONTACT SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSPAPER PRAYER TIMINGS DAWN EOS/ICON/YOUNG WORLD Copyright © 2026, Dawn

CONTRIBUTION GUIDELINES REPRODUCTION COPYRIGHTS STOCK/FOREX/GOLD PRISM CITYFM89 NewsKit Publishing Platform

CODE OF ETHICS ADVERTISE ON [Link] WEATHER IMAGES HERALD

AI POLICY BRANDED CONTENT DESKTOP SPECIAL REPORTS TEELI

TERMS OF USE CAREERS AURORA

PRIVACY OBITUARIES DAWN NEWS

COMMENT MODERATION