New Delhi: World leaders and international bodies on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran, with most urging the parties to convert the pause into a permanent settlement and several crediting Pakistan’s role in brokering the deal.US President Donald Trump abruptly announced a two-week suspension, calling Iran’s 10-point peace proposal “workable”, after he had made genocidal threats on obliterating Iran’s civilisation.World leaders had largely remained silent in face of the US threat of nuclear annihilation and war crimes. Today, several countries have thanked Pakistan for the diplomatic role it played in brokering the deal.Washington’s rivals take stockForeign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China welcomes the ceasefire and welcomed Pakistan’s efforts alongside those of other parties. “We have been advocating for peace talks and a ceasefire,” Mao said, adding that Chinese authorities will “keep playing a constructive role” toward peace. She said, without elaborating, that China “did its own efforts” toward a deal.Russia framed the ceasefire as a repudiation of the US-led campaign. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the approach of what she described as a one-track, aggressive, unprovoked attack against Iran had suffered a “crushing defeat.” She said Russia had maintained from the outset that there was no military solution to the conflict and had called for an immediate end to hostilities and a real political and diplomatic settlement. Former Russian President and Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said common sense had prevailed, but added that “there’ll be no cheap oil” going forward.Immediate neighbours: relief with conditionsThe Gulf states had been among the most directly affected by the conflict, having faced repeated Iranian missile and drone strikes in retaliation for hosting US military bases. The choking of the Strait of Hormuz had also stopped their energy imports Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain had all activated air defences throughout the war, and the ceasefire brought particular relief to governments that had been simultaneously managing civilian casualties and economic disruption while urging a diplomatic resolution.Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry welcomed the ceasefire and credited Pakistan’s role in securing it, saying the Kingdom “commends the productive efforts undertaken by the Prime Minister and the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces of Pakistan, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in reaching this agreement.” It affirmed support for Pakistan’s mediation efforts toward “a lasting agreement that achieves security and stability and addresses all issues that have resulted in instability and insecurity over the past decades.”The Kingdom also called for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to navigation in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 “without any restrictions,” and expressed hope that the ceasefire would provide an opportunity for “a comprehensive and sustainable de-escalation, thereby enhancing regional security and halting any aggression or policies that infringe upon the sovereignty, security, and stability of the region’s countries.”Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, framed the ceasefire as vindication for a country that had borne the brunt of Iranian strikes throughout the conflict. “The UAE triumphed in a war we sincerely sought to avoid,” Gargash wrote on X, saying the country had “prevailed through an epic national defence that safeguarded sovereignty and dignity and protected our achievements in the face of treacherous aggression.” He added that the UAE would now “move forward to manage a complex regional landscape with greater leverage, sharper insight, and a more solid capacity to influence and shape the future.”Qatar’s foreign ministry called the deal an initial step toward de-escalation and affirmed the necessity of building upon it urgently to prevent the expansion of tensions in the region. It expressed appreciation for the efforts of Sharif and Munir, as well as all parties that played a mediating role. The ministry said it was imperative for Iran to take the initiative to “immediately cease all hostile acts and practices that undermine regional stability and respect the sovereignty of states, thereby guaranteeing the non-repetition of such violations.” It also stressed the importance of ensuring the security of maritime passages and freedom of international navigation in accordance with international law.Oman’s foreign ministry welcomed the ceasefire and appreciated “the efforts of Pakistan and all parties calling for an end to the war,” saying it affirms “the importance of intensifying efforts now to find solutions that can end the crisis from its roots and achieve a permanent cessation of the state of war and hostilities in the region.”Egypt’s foreign ministry said the ceasefire “represents a very important opportunity that must be seized to make room for negotiations, diplomacy and constructive dialogue.” It said the truce must be built upon with a full commitment to “stopping military operations and respecting freedom of international navigation,” and that Cairo would continue its efforts with Pakistan and Turkiye “to promote security and stability in the region.” It added that talks between the US and Iran “must take into account the legitimate security concerns” of Gulf nations.President Abdelfattah el-Sisi separately wrote on X that the news had “undoubtedly brought relief to the hearts of millions of peace-loving people across all corners of the earth.” He reaffirmed Egypt’s “full and unconditional support for the sister countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Jordan and Iraq, during these delicate circumstances,” and called on all parties to engage seriously in negotiations leading to lasting peace. He noted his appreciation for Trump’s “decision to heed the voice of reason and uphold the values of humanity and peace.”Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the ceasefire but said both sides must commit fully to the deal for it to hold. “As the ministry asserts its support for regional and international efforts to contain crises and prioritise the language of dialogue and diplomacy, it stresses the need for full commitment to the ceasefire and refraining from any escalations,” the ministry said.Turkiye welcomed the temporary ceasefire while emphasising “the necessity of the full implementation of the temporary ceasefire on the ground,” and said “the path to lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual trust.” Ankara expressed full support for the Islamabad negotiations, congratulated “brotherly Pakistan” for its role throughout the process, and said it would “continue to extend all necessary support for the successful conclusion of the negotiations to be held in Islamabad.”Europe credits Pakistan, warns work remainsIn London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the ceasefire “will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.” “Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote on X.Germany chancellor Friedrich Merz thanked Pakistan for its mediation and said the goal now must be to negotiate a permanent end to the war. “The goal must now be to negotiate a permanent end to the war. We are in close consultation with our partners on this,” he wrote. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the ceasefire must be the decisive first step on the path to permanent peace, warning that the consequences of a continuation of the wars would be incalculable. He also directly thanked Pakistan for its role in the negotiations.France had been one of the vocal critics of the US-Israel initiation of the war and advocated that Europe should not be involved. President Emmanuel Macron called the announcement a very good thing. “We have had the same objective since the first day: to protect our nationals and our interests, to stand by our regional partners, and to work toward de-escalation to restore peace and freedom of navigation,” he said.In Europe, Spain had been an outlier in its leadership’s strong disavowal of Iran war and direct criticism of Israel.While welcoming the ceasefire, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez said that “momentary relief must not make us forget the chaos, the destruction and the lives lost”. “The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket,” he said, adding that “diplomacy, international law and PEACE” was required to prevail.Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the ceasefire prevents “an escalation with irreparable consequences” and praised Pakistan’s work as crucial. “Diplomacy, negotiation, and international law are the only path to the lasting peace that the citizens of the Middle East deserve,” he wrote, adding that the ceasefire must extend to Lebanon within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1701.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the ceasefire “brings much-needed de-escalation,” thanked Pakistan for its mediation, and said it was now crucial that negotiations for an enduring solution continue. “We will continue coordinating with our partners to this end,” she wrote on X. European Council President Antonio Costa urged all parties to uphold the terms of the agreement in order to achieve sustainable peace in the region. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the deal as “a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation.”Ukraine’s welcome of the ceasefire carried the weight of a country that had been watching the Iran conflict with acute strategic interest. Throughout the war, President Volodymyr Zelensky had accused Russia of providing satellite intelligence to Iran on Gulf state military targets, including US bases in Saudi Arabia, and had repeatedly warned that surging oil prices driven by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz were boosting Kremlin revenues and sustaining Russia’s war effort.Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the ceasefire and the unblocking of the Strait, but used the moment to call for comparable US resolve toward Russia. “American decisiveness works. We believe it is time for sufficient decisiveness to force Moscow to cease fire and end its war against Ukraine,” he wrote on X.Kyiv had aligned against Iran with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy touring Gulf states, forging defence agreements and offering drone technology.Indo-Pacific flags energy and stability concernsAsia had been the most impact in energy shortages as most of the imports from the Gulf states that were impeded due to the Strait of Hormuz obstruction were for Asian countries.In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan welcomes the ceasefire as a “positive move” and that Tokyo is awaiting a final agreement. He said de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East remains a top priority for Japan.Japan relies on the Middle East for about 90 percent of its crude oil imports, most of which passes through Hormuz, while South Korea routes more than 95 percent of its Middle Eastern crude, which accounts for about 70 percent of its total imports, through the waterway,South Korea’s foreign ministry expressed hope that “negotiations between the two sides will be successfully concluded and that peace and stability in the Middle East will be restored at an early date,” and called for “free and safe navigation of all vessels through the strait of Hormuz.”Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the ceasefire “augurs well for the restoration of peace and stability, not only to the region but also the rest of the world.” He called on the parties to negotiate in good faith, saying peace talks “cannot succeed if the proceedings are cloaked in deception and double-dealing.” He said the ten-point plan must be translated into a comprehensive peace deal covering not just Iran but also Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Palestine. He praised Shehbaz Sharif’s diplomacy as “tireless and courageous,” saying Pakistan’s willingness to speak to all sides “reflects the highest traditions of Muslim solidarity and international responsibility.”Indonesia had been one of the more active non-aligned voices during the conflict, with Foreign Minister Sugiono conveying President Prabowo Subianto’s willingness to travel to Tehran personally to mediate. On the ceasefire, the foreign ministry called on all sides to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity and urged restraint and diplomacy.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued a joint statement welcoming the agreement and expressing hope it would lead to a long-lasting resolution. They said Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, “coupled with its attacks on commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure, and oil and gas facilities, is causing unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacting oil and fuel prices.”They said the longer the war continued, the greater the human cost and the more significant the impact on the global economy, and thanked Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia for their work as negotiators. Albanese had previously said publicly that Trump’s language threatening the Iranian population was “not appropriate” and that any conduct in conflict must remain within international law.Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters welcomed the ceasefire but said significant work remains. “While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire,” he wrote on X. He thanked Pakistan, Turkiye, and Egypt for their efforts, noting the conflict had had “wide-ranging impacts and disruptions” for the Pacific region as well.President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed the agreement and credited Sharif and Munir with achieving it through what his office called “goodwill and wisdom,” expressing hope that the truce would be long-lasting and contribute to global trade and economic prosperity.Multilateral voices: protect civilians, sustain the pauseSecretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement and called on all parties to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire “in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.” His spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement that “an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering,” and confirmed that the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Jean Arnault is “in the region to support efforts toward lasting peace.”Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, called on all people of goodwill to seek peace and reject war. He said attacks on civilian infrastructure are both against international law and “a sign of the hatred, the division, the destruction the human being is capable of.”