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Pakistan is prepared to host and mediate negotiations between the United States and Iran in the coming days.
This was stated by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to CNN.
The announcement followed a meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt in Islamabad, where discussions focused on de-escalation and ending the war in the Middle East.
A week earlier, two officials from the Trump administration told CNN that US representatives were working to organize a meeting in Pakistan to discuss ways to end the conflict. Now, such a meeting appears increasingly likely.
“Pakistan would be happy to host and facilitate meaningful negotiations between the two sides in the coming days, with the aim of achieving a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict,” Dar said.
He added that he had briefed the visiting foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt on the prospects of potential US–Iran talks in Islamabad, noting that they expressed “full support” for the initiative.
According to Dar, both Iran and the United States have also expressed “full support and trust” in Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate the negotiations.
He also revealed that he discussed the initiative by phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, both of whom supported Pakistan’s proposal.
Is peace in the Middle East near?
Recently, sources cited by The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump told his allies he wants to end the conflict within the coming weeks and hopes to avoid a prolonged war.
Meanwhile, US Vice President J.D. Vance stated that Washington does not intend to remain involved in Iran for one or two years, suggesting the operation will continue only long enough to neutralize threats.
At the same time, the US continues to strengthen its military presence in the region. In recent days, an amphibious assault ship and 3,500 Marines have arrived in the Middle East, and according to The Washington Post, up to 10,000 troops could be deployed.
