High-level meeting in Islamabad underscores Pakistan’s growing role in mediating tensions as Iran links future talks to lifting of US naval blockade.
ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday to discuss the evolving regional situation and ongoing diplomatic efforts, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Officials did not disclose further details about the discussions, but the meeting comes amid intensified diplomatic activity surrounding a prolonged deadlock in negotiations between Iran and the United States.
The engagement follows a recent announcement by US President Donald Trump extending a ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, a move he said was aimed at allowing more time for diplomacy. Despite the extension, uncertainty persists over whether both Iran and US ally Israel will formally commit to maintaining the truce.
In a statement shared on social media, Trump noted that Washington had agreed to Pakistan’s request to delay further military escalation, acknowledging Islamabad’s role in facilitating dialogue between the two sides.
Pakistan has hosted a series of talks in Islamabad in recent weeks as part of its mediation efforts to resolve the nearly two-month-long conflict, which has resulted in significant humanitarian and economic consequences.
Iran, however, has made it clear that the resumption of formal negotiations is contingent upon the lifting of a US-imposed naval blockade. Tehran has described the blockade as a major obstacle to meaningful diplomatic engagement.
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the country’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated that Iran is prepared to return to the negotiating table immediately if the blockade is removed.
“If they want to sit on the table and discuss and find a political solution, they will find us ready. If they want to go to war, in this case also, Iran is ready for that,” Iravani said.
Pakistan has increasingly positioned itself as a key diplomatic intermediary, urging both sides to sustain the ceasefire and pursue dialogue to prevent further escalation in the region.
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