Pakistan’s prime minister revealed that he engaged in an extensive discussion with Iran’s president on Saturday, while foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey convened in Islamabad to address the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The diplomats were set to participate in discussions on Sunday and Monday to address various issues, including measures to reduce tensions in the region, as stated by the Pakistan foreign ministry.
Under Shehbaz Sharif’s administration, Pakistan has become a crucial intermediary between Iran and the United States during their prolonged conflict, facilitating communication between the two parties.
Sharif disclosed that he had a detailed phone call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier in preparation for the upcoming talks. Additionally, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that Iran had granted permission for “20 additional ships” flying the Pakistani flag, translating to two ships daily, to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz.
Dar emphasized the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and confidence-building measures as the primary approach moving forward. He also tagged US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in his statement.
Sharif informed Iran’s president about Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts, engaging with the United States and other Gulf and Islamic nations to facilitate dialogue and reduce tensions.
Pezeshkian commended Islamabad for its mediation endeavors and expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s role in halting aggression against Iran. The two leaders have previously discussed the conflict and Pakistan’s commitment to resolving it.
Pakistan has strong ties with Tehran and close relations in the Gulf region. Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have also developed a personal relationship with US President Donald Trump.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul hinted on Friday that a direct meeting between the US and Iran could take place in Pakistan in the near future, without disclosing the source of his information.
Although Tehran has not confirmed engaging in official discussions with Washington, Iran reportedly conveyed a response to Trump’s proposed 15-point plan through Islamabad, according to an anonymous source cited by the Iranian Tasnim news agency.
