Pakistan Mediates US-Iran Talks Amid Rising Tensions | Venue for De-escalation?
Islamabad is emerging as a key diplomatic hub in efforts to de-escalate rising tensions between the United States and Iran, with Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, playing a central role in brokering communications between Washington and Tehran. The effort comes as Iran has retaliated against Israel with drone and missile strikes, targeting also Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Munir spoke directly with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, while Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday. These conversations occurred around the same time Trump announced a delay in threats to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants, citing “very good and productive” conversations with Tehran aimed at ending the conflict.
Pakistan is actively pitching Islamabad as a venue for direct talks between senior US and Iranian officials in the coming days, officials say. This move positions Pakistan as the lead mediator in attempting to broker an end to the conflict, leveraging Munir’s established ties with both Tehran and Trump. Senior Pakistani officials are reportedly engaged in “back-channel diplomacy,” relaying communications between Tehran and Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in a bid to secure a brief ceasefire and create space for negotiations.
The mediation efforts are not solely confined to Pakistan. Turkey and Egypt are also involved in passing messages between the US and Iran, according to a US source. Senior officials from both countries have held separate talks with Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar held talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Monday, further indicating a coordinated regional approach to de-escalation.
Pakistan’s involvement is driven by a number of critical factors. Islamabad shares a land border with Iran and has the second-largest Shia Muslim population globally, making regional stability paramount. Pakistan is facing an impending shortage of liquified natural gas (LNG), with officials warning that supplies will run out by April without further deliveries. The country also maintains close relations with Gulf states, including a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia.
The White House has declined to provide details on the negotiations with Iran, stating, “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the news media.” It remains unclear whether Pakistan’s mediation push is directly linked to Trump’s recent statements on social media, which caused a sharp decline in oil prices. The mediation is reportedly “ongoing and making progress,” with discussions focused on ending the war and resolving outstanding issues, though concrete answers remain elusive.