5-point proposal includes immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to civil and commercial ships
China and Pakistan presented on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) a peace plan to end the war between the United States, Israel and Iran. The agreement involves 5 main points and includes an immediate ceasefire to attacks from all sides and the guarantee of passage of civil and commercial vessels in the . The sea passage has been almost 100% blocked by Iran since the start of the war on February 28 and is the Persian country’s main advantage to put pressure on the US and its allies.
The plan was presented during a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday (31 March). The proposal from the 2 countries has relevant diplomatic weight, as Pakistan has acted as a mediator between the US and Iran, while China has played a prominent role in coordinating a ceasefire in the conflict since February.
Read the full 5 points of the proposal below:
- immediate cessation of hostilities – “China and Pakistan call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and to make every effort to prevent the spread of conflict. Humanitarian assistance must be permitted in all war-affected areas.”;
- start of peace negotiations as soon as possible – “the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf States must be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable options for resolving conflicts. China and Pakistan support the parties involved in the initiation of negotiations, with all parties committing to the peaceful resolution of disputes and refraining from the use or threat of force during the peace negotiations.”;
- security of non-military targets – “the principle of protecting civilians in armed conflicts must be observed. China and Pakistan call on the parties to the conflict to immediately cease attacks on civilians and non-military targets, fully comply with international humanitarian law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power generation facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure such as nuclear power plants.”;
- security of maritime routes – “The Strait of Hormuz, together with the surrounding waters, is an important global maritime route for the transport of goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the safety of ships and crew stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the rapid and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normalization of passage through the strait as soon as possible.”;
- primacy of the United Nations Charter – “China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and support the conclusion of an agreement to establish a comprehensive peace framework and realize lasting peace, based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.”
The proposal has not yet been responded to by the parties involved in the war. In parallel to the Chinese-Pakistani plan, the US claims that it is in contact with Iran for a definitive agreement for the war.
Negotiations between the US and Iran are still shrouded in speculation. If on the one hand Iran denies this direct contact, the president of the USA, (Republican Party), said in an interview with journalists on Monday (30 March) that the Iranian regime accepted most of a list of 15 demands presented by the Americans to end the war in the Middle East.
On Tuesday (March 31), the US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, said that . According to him, the US is prepared to intensify attacks in the Middle East if Iran does not accept US terms for an agreement.
