Pakistan offers to facilitate talks between US and Iran
The Pakistani government stated on Sunday its readiness to facilitate and host “significant talks” between the United States and Iran with the aim of ending the war, highlighting growing support for its peace efforts, including from the United Nations and China.
Pakistan has positioned itself 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 received his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey for several hours on Sunday in the Pakistani capital amidst concerns over the consequences of the conflict, particularly the disruption of maritime traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In a televised statement, Mr. Dar, who is also Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, indicated that the foreign ministers present in Islamabad had expressed “full support” for potential talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad.
“The foreign ministers advocated 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 Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir have developed a personal relationship with US President Donald Trump.
Mr. Dar and Mr. Sharif have had several telephone discussions with senior Iranian officials, including President Massoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and have been “actively engaged in dialogue” with the American administration, according to the Foreign Minister.
“In this context, Pakistan is 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 significant talks between the two parties in the coming days, with the goal of 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, along with other governments worldwide, he assured.
Preventing “total chaos”
Sunday’s discussions, held under tight security and without delegates from the United States, Israel, or Iran, focused on efforts to prevent the escalation of the conflict and encourage the establishment of a “negotiation framework” between Tehran and Washington to avoid the region descending into a “state of total chaos,” according to Cairo.
The three ministers – Badr Abdelatty for Egypt, Hakan Fidan for Turkey, and the Saudi Fayçal ben Farhane – also met with Mr. Sharif and General Munir.
Tehran has denied holding any official talks with Washington but has responded to Mr. Trump’s 15-point plan to end the war, via Islamabad, according to an anonymous source quoted by the Iranian news agency Tasnim.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said 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 also have an economic rationale: the country depends on oil and gas imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. If disruptions to maritime traffic continue, fuel supplies could deteriorate, leading to price hikes and necessitating new austerity measures.
Late on Saturday, Mr. Dar announced that Iran had allowed an additional 20 Pakistani-flagged ships – or two ships per day – to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
