Pakistan says it will soon host talks between the United States and Iran aimed at easing tensions in the escalating Middle East conflict, though officials in Washington and Tehran have not yet confirmed the proposed negotiations.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the plan in Islamabad after a meeting with foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, saying both sides had expressed confidence in Pakistan’s ability to facilitate dialogue.
“Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days,” Dar said, describing the initiative as part of diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions after weeks of quiet mediation.
It remains unclear whether the discussions would involve direct talks between American and Iranian representatives or indirect negotiations through intermediaries. Pakistan’s foreign ministry did not provide additional details, and Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment.
The diplomatic effort comes as the monthlong war between Iran, the United States and Israel continues to expand across the region. The conflict began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, triggering retaliatory attacks by Iran on Israel, U.S. military installations and other sites in Gulf Arab states.
More than 3,000 people have been killed in the fighting so far, including over 1,900 in Iran, 19 in Israel, and dozens across Iraq and Gulf countries. Thirteen American service members have also been reported killed. In Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group, authorities say more than 1,200 people have died and more than one million have been displaced.
The war has also threatened global energy supplies and international shipping. Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil exports, has unsettled global markets. Meanwhile, the entry of Iran-backed Houthi rebels into the conflict could threaten vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait near the Red Sea.
Iranian officials have shown mixed reactions to the proposed talks. Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed the idea as a distraction, warning that Iranian forces were prepared to confront American troops arriving in the region.
The warning followed the deployment of about 2,500 U.S. Marines to the Middle East, where they have been conducting amphibious landing exercises as part of regional military operations.
Iran has also escalated its rhetoric, threatening potential attacks on the homes of U.S. and Israeli officials in the region and warning that Israeli universities and branches of American universities could become targets unless attacks on Iranian academic institutions stop.
Tehran says dozens of universities and research centers have been damaged in recent Israeli airstrikes, including institutions linked to scientific and technological research. Israel claims some of the sites were involved in weapons and nuclear-related development.
At the same time, diplomacy continues behind the scenes. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the meetings in Pakistan aim to open the door to direct dialogue between Washington and Tehran, which have largely communicated through mediators in the past.
Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal outlining a 15-point framework for a possible peace agreement, instead drafting its own five-point plan that reportedly includes guarantees against future attacks, reparations and recognition of Iran’s authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the tensions, Tehran recently allowed additional Pakistani-flagged commercial vessels to pass through the strait, signaling that it remains open to trade if diplomatic pressure from the United States is reduced.
Regional leaders say any future peace deal must also address broader security concerns. Anwar Gargash, an adviser to the United Arab Emirates government, said any settlement must include guarantees preventing Iran from launching attacks on neighboring countries and should involve compensation for damage to civilian infrastructure.
Pakistan’s proposed talks represent the latest diplomatic effort to prevent the conflict from spiraling further across the Middle East.
