India, April 8 -- On Tuesday, the script seemed locked: Iran bracing for an unprecedented United States strike, the Gulf on edge over a sweeping Iranian retaliation, and Washington gearing up for a long-haul conflict, apparently not a nuclear one.

Then, the tables were turned on Tuesday evening, minutes before Trump's deadline, with the two sides announcing a two-week ceasefire despite clear apprehensions of a no-deal, marking one of the many, yet surprising, turns in the over 5-week conflict between Iran and the United States.

However, what went on behind the curtains was Pakistani mediators sharing drafts between the two sides, a push from China and clear instructions from the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

The deal took shape...