The Pakistan government has declared its readiness to facilitate and host “meaningful talks” between the United States and Iran in a bid to end the war, garnering growing support for its peace efforts from the United Nations and China.
The Pakistani government has positioned itself as a mediator between Iran and the United States, enabling the exchange of messages as the war, led by Washington alongside Israel, enters its second month.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hosted counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey in the Pakistani capital for several hours on Sunday, amidst concerns over the repercussions of the conflict, including the choking of maritime traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In a televised statement, Mr. Dar, who is also Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, stated that the foreign ministers in Islamabad had “expressed their full support” for potential talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad.
“The foreign ministers advocated dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path to prevent conflicts and promote regional peace and harmony,” he added.
Islamabad 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 engaged in several telephone conversations with senior Iranian officials, including President Massoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and have had “active dialogue” with the US administration, according to the foreign minister.
“In this context, Pakistan is pleased that both Iran and the United States have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate discussions,” he further stated.
“Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate significant talks between the two parties in the coming days, aiming for a comprehensive and lasting resolution of the ongoing conflict.”
Mr. Dar also held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who “fully support” Pakistan’s peace initiative, as do other governments worldwide, he assured.
“Preventing total chaos”
The talks on Sunday, held under high security and without delegates from the United States, Israel, or Iran, focused on efforts to prevent the escalation of conflict and encourage the establishment of a “negotiation framework” between Tehran and Washington to prevent the region from descending into “total chaos,” according to Cairo.
The three ministers – Badr Abdelatty for Egypt, Hakan Fidan for Turkey, and Saudi Fayçal ben Farhane – also met with Mr. Sharif and Marshal Munir.
Tehran has officially denied any talks with Washington but responded to Mr. Trump’s 15-point plan to end the war via 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 imports of oil and gas transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. If disruptions in maritime traffic continue, fuel supply could deteriorate, leading to price hikes and necessitating the implementation of new austerity measures.
Late on Saturday, Mr. Dar announced that Iran had permitted an additional 20 vessels flying the Pakistani flag – two ships per day – to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
