Pakistan offers to facilitate US-Iran talks to end war
Pakistan has declared its willingness to facilitate and host “significant talks” between the United States and Iran with the aim of ending the war, showing growing support for peace efforts from the UN and China.
The Pakistani government has emerged as a mediator between Iran and the United States, enabling the exchange of messages as the war, led by Washington with Israel, enters its second month.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hosted his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey in the Pakistani capital on Sunday, amid concerns over the consequences of the conflict, including the blockade of maritime traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Mr. Dar, also the Vice Prime Minister of Pakistan, stated in a televised address that the foreign ministers in Islamabad had expressed full support for potential talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad.
“The Foreign Ministers advocated for dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable way to prevent conflicts and promote regional peace and harmony,” he added.
Pakistan aims to leverage its longstanding ties with Tehran and close contacts in the Gulf, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir have developed a personal relationship with US President Donald Trump.
Mr. Dar and Mr. Sharif have had several phone conversations with senior Iranian officials, including President Massoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and have been actively engaging with the US administration, said the Foreign Minister.
“In this context, Pakistan is very pleased that both Iran and the United States have expressed confidence in Pakistan to facilitate discussions,” he added.
“Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two parties in the coming days, aiming for a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict.”
Mr. Dar also spoke with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. They “fully support” Pakistan’s peace initiative, as do other governments around the world, he assured.
– Preventing “total chaos” –
Sunday’s discussions, held under tight security and without delegates from the US, Israel, or Iran, focused on efforts to prevent the conflict from escalating and to encourage the establishment of a negotiation framework between Tehran and Washington to avoid the region descending into “total chaos,” as stated by Cairo.
The three ministers – Badr Abdelatty for Egypt, Hakan Fidan for Turkey, and Saudi Minister Fayçal ben Farhane – also met with Mr. Sharif and Marshal Munir.
Tehran denies any official talks with Washington, but has responded to Mr. Trump’s 15-point plan to end the war through Islamabad, according to an anonymous source cited by the Iranian news agency Tasnim.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on Friday that he expects a direct meeting between the United States and Iran in Pakistan “very soon,” without revealing the source of his information.
Pakistan’s efforts have an economic rationale: the country relies on oil and gas imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. If disruptions to maritime traffic continue, fuel supplies could deteriorate, leading to price increases and necessitating new austerity measures.
Late on Saturday, Mr. Dar announced that Iran had allowed an additional 20 Pakistani-flagged ships – two per day – to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
