Islamabad Confirms Mediatory Role
Pakistan has officially confirmed it is acting as a mediator in indirect talks between the United States and Iran. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated on Thursday that Islamabad is conveying messages between the two sides and that the US has submitted a 15-point ceasefire proposal, which Tehran is now reviewing.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier wrote on X that Pakistan “stands ready and honoured” to host conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement. The post directly tagged US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a rare public move that drew attention across global capitals.
Why Pakistan? A Rare Diplomatic Position
Analysts say Pakistan occupies a uniquely useful position. It maintains warm ties with both Washington and Tehran, has no American military bases on its soil, removing one Iranian objection and also represents Iran’s diplomatic interests in Washington. Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, has spoken directly with President Donald Trump, who earlier praised Islamabad, saying Pakistanis “know Iran very well, better than most.”
Pakistan also has a strong motivation of its own. Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG passes, has hit Pakistan hard, as it relies on the Gulf for nearly all its energy imports.
What Iran Is Saying
Tehran’s response has been cool. A senior Iranian diplomatic source told Al Jazeera that the US proposal was “extremely maximalist and unreasonable” and “not beautiful, even on paper.” Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that while messages are being passed through mediators, this “does not mean negotiations.”
Iran has laid out five conditions for ending the war: a halt to all aggression, concrete guarantees against renewed conflict, war damage compensation, a comprehensive end to fighting across all fronts, including against resistance groups, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei cited past “betrayals of diplomacy” as a reason for deep suspicion. However, Iranian officials have acknowledged that “friendly countries” are working to facilitate dialogue, widely understood as a reference to Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt.
The Human Cost and Global Stakes
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on February 28, has killed more than 2,000 people and injured over 18,500 in Iran alone. Millions have been displaced. Global energy and stock markets have been shaken, and fears of a wider regional war remain high.
Despite the diplomatic flurry, Israel has signalled it wants several more weeks of fighting to achieve military objectives, while Trump’s 15-point proposal covers sanctions relief, nuclear rollback, and the reopening of Hormuz. Whether Pakistan can bridge such a wide gap remains the central question of the hour.
