Pakistan has taken on a mediating role in efforts to reduce ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, according to a report published on March 29, 2026. Foreign ministers from the involved countries are meeting to bring both sides back to the negotiation table, a task described as highly complex. The discussions are being facilitated with the participation of four countries that maintain good relations with the United States, while Pakistan also enjoys a positive relationship with Iran.

As part of its mediation, Pakistan is relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, conveying the U.S. position to Iran and returning with Iran’s responses and demands. The foreign ministers are using their influence over both nations to encourage direct dialogue.

Some in Pakistan believe that, given past experiences with U.S.-Iran negotiations, President Donald Trump may be taking time before making decisions, during which military deployment preparations could continue.

Top diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye have gathered in Islamabad for two days of talks with their Pakistani counterpart, aiming to de-escalate the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The discussions, held on Sunday and Monday, are led by Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Ahead of the talks, Dar announced that Iran had allowed 20 additional ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for over an hour as part of the preparations.

According to Al Jazeera’s Kamal Kyder, Pakistan has been acting as a key intermediary between the United States and Iran, relaying messages as part of mediation efforts. Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s role in attempting to halt aggression against Iran. Islamabad’s longstanding ties with Tehran and Gulf states, as well as its communication channels with Washington, have positioned it as a central player in the diplomatic process.

The talks come amid rising regional tensions, including Houthi attacks on Israel and the arrival of additional US forces in the Middle East, heightening fears of a broader conflict.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Saturday that Iran has agreed to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, with two ships scheduled to cross daily. Dar described the move as a “harbinger of peace” and a “welcome and constructive gesture,” suggesting it could help stabilize a region strained by conflict and energy shortages. His announcement, addressed to senior U.S. and Iranian officials, underscored Islamabad’s broader diplomatic role in efforts to end the ongoing war.

The Strait of Hormuz has been largely closed since coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, sparking a conflict that has severely disrupted global trade. With about 2,000 vessels stranded and oil prices surging above $100 a barrel, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has imposed strict passage controls, requiring ships to pay for escorted transit. Iran’s parliament is now considering legalizing these tolls as a revenue source.

The deal follows a week of intense Pakistani diplomacy, including talks between Pakistan’s army chief and U.S. President Donald Trump. Islamabad has offered to host peace talks if all parties agree.

At the invitation of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt will arrive in Islamabad on Sunday for a two-day official visit. According to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the high-level diplomatic meeting will take place on March 29 and 30, 2026. The participants include Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkey’s Hakan Fidan, and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty.

The main objective of the visit is to reduce regional tensions and strengthen cooperation among the four countries in various sectors. The statement added that, in addition to formal meetings, the visiting ministers will also meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The discussions aim to develop a coordinated stance on current regional developments and deepen mutual strategic relations.

The meeting is expected to serve as a platform for enhanced diplomatic coordination among the participating nations, focusing on stability and partnership in the region.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the country has invited the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt to attend a meeting in Islamabad on March 29 and 30. In a statement posted on X, Dar said the participants will hold “deep discussions,” including efforts to ease tensions in the region. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that its foreign minister has already arrived in the Pakistani capital to take part in the talks.

According to the report, Pakistan is seeking to play a mediating role in promoting peace across the region. The country has also proposed hosting a meeting between the United States and Iran, though it remains uncertain whether that will take place. Earlier in the week, Dar mentioned that indirect talks were ongoing through message exchanges facilitated by Pakistan.

The report also noted that former U.S. President Donald Trump shared a screenshot of a post by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Truth Social, in which Sharif stated that Pakistan was “ready” to host such discussions.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a nearly one-hour telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. The call was part of Pakistan’s broader consultations with regional leaders. In a post on social media platform X, Sharif expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran and condemned Israeli attacks. He also thanked Pezeshkian for appreciating Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and dialogue in the region.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will meet his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt in Islamabad. The two-day meeting is scheduled to begin on Sunday. Officials confirmed that earlier in the week, Pakistan conveyed Washington’s 15-point ceasefire proposal to Tehran.

The discussions reflect Pakistan’s active diplomatic engagement amid heightened regional tensions and efforts to facilitate dialogue among key Middle Eastern states.

Pakistan has emerged as a mediator between the United States and Iran to end a month-long war, according to officials familiar with the diplomatic discussions. Islamabad has conveyed Washington’s 15-point peace plan to Tehran and proposed formal talks. Reports indicate that Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir spoke with US President Donald Trump, suggesting Islamabad as a potential venue, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Negotiations involving senior US and Iranian representatives could begin within the week.

The development has unsettled India, where relations with the US have recently strained. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy as a “global joke,” while Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach had outperformed India’s. Analysts noted that Pakistan’s border with Iran, its military experience with the US, and ties with Saudi Arabia and China positioned it for this role. Former Indian diplomat T.C.A. Raghavan acknowledged that US-Pakistan relations had strengthened over the past year and that successful mediation could further consolidate them.

Modi later stated that he and Trump agreed to maintain contact to ensure stability in the Middle East and keep the Strait of Hormuz open, vital for Asian economies.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, focusing on Pakistan’s mediation efforts between Iran and the United States. The meeting took place in Islamabad, where China expressed support for Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative and praised its role in promoting dialogue. The discussions centered on efforts to ease tensions and encourage negotiations amid ongoing conflict.

According to the report, Pakistan had earlier conveyed a 15-point proposal from the United States to Iran aimed at ending the current war, but Iran rejected the proposal and presented its own demands. Following the meeting, Ishaq Dar stated on social media that both sides reaffirmed the need to restore peace and stability across the Middle East and the wider region. They agreed to continue supporting efforts to de-escalate tensions, resume peace talks, protect civilians, ensure maritime safety, and uphold the UN Charter.

The talks highlight China’s backing of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach and both countries’ shared interest in regional stability and multilateral cooperation.

Israel has reportedly removed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf from its target list following a request from Pakistan to Washington. A Pakistani source told Reuters that Israel had information on their locations and intended to target them, but the United States intervened after Pakistan warned that removing them was necessary to keep dialogue channels open. Pakistan’s military and foreign ministry have not commented on the matter.

The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that the two Iranian leaders were temporarily taken off Israel’s target list for four to five days to facilitate potential peace talks, though it did not mention Pakistan’s involvement. Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey are currently acting as mediators between Tehran and Washington in efforts to end the ongoing conflict.

Islamabad maintains direct communication with both Washington and Tehran at a time when many other countries have lost such channels. The Pakistani capital is also being considered as a possible venue for future peace discussions.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has confirmed that his country is facilitating message exchanges between the United States and Iran as part of a mediation effort. He stated that Turkey, Egypt, and several other nations are also supporting this initiative aimed at easing tensions between the two sides.

In a post on social media platform X, Dar emphasized Pakistan’s full commitment to peace and its ongoing efforts to ensure stability both within the region and beyond. The statement highlights Islamabad’s active diplomatic engagement amid heightened regional uncertainty.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, underscores Pakistan’s role as a communication channel in the broader mediation process, though specific details of the exchanges or outcomes have not been disclosed.

Pakistan’s former prime minister and cricket legend Imran Khan remains steadfast in his beliefs despite being imprisoned. In a recent column for The Times, former England captain Michael Atherton shared insights from a conversation with Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Qasim, who spoke about their father’s condition and unyielding spirit. They said Imran would not compromise and was prepared to die in jail if necessary.

The two sons spoke with their father by phone last Saturday, their first conversation since January. They revealed that the 73-year-old’s right eye has severely deteriorated, yet he remains calm and resilient, using meditation to maintain his composure. Qasim said that even restrictions such as cutting electricity or denying books have made his father spiritually stronger. Sulaiman added that Imran openly declared he would rather die in prison than abandon his principles.

According to his sons, Imran is more concerned about his wife Bushra Bibi’s imprisonment than his own suffering, telling them that while he can endure hardship, attacks on his family are far more difficult.

US Vice President JD Vance may travel to Pakistan later this week to discuss President Donald Trump’s proposal for ending the ongoing Middle East war, according to a CNN report cited by Amar Desh. The report said Iranian representatives informed the Trump administration that they did not wish to resume talks with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Following this, Islamabad proposed Vance’s name, leading to reports of his possible visit.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said that nothing had changed in the administration’s approach and described Vance as a key member of the national security team. She added that President Trump regularly seeks Vance’s advice on both domestic and foreign matters. Levitt declined to specify which Iranian officials the US was engaging with, but CNN sources indicated that Trump’s team was working to organize peace-focused discussions in Pakistan this weekend.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that his country is ready to host meaningful talks aimed at ending the conflict. Reports suggest that US and Iranian representatives could meet in Islamabad within the week, though timing and participation remain subject to change.

Diplomatic efforts have intensified in the Middle East as Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan attempt to arrange a direct meeting between the United States and Iran in Islamabad within the next 48 hours. According to reports, a 15-point proposal has been sent to Iran through Pakistan, and the mediating countries are working to secure a face-to-face dialogue soon.

Alongside these diplomatic moves, the United States is increasing its military presence in the region. Earlier, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, consisting of about 2,500 troops, was deployed, and now an additional 1,500 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division are being sent to the Middle East. These units are trained for offensive operations. Iranian negotiators have reportedly shown reluctance to meet US representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, preferring instead to engage with Vice President JD Vance.

The situation remains tense as diplomatic and military activities advance simultaneously, adding complexity to the regional crisis.

Pakistan’s army leadership has initiated mediation efforts between the United States and Iran amid an ongoing conflict. The White House confirmed that Army Chief Asim Munir spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss ways to end the war that began about a month ago. Diplomatic sources indicated that Washington and Tehran could meet in Islamabad later this week for talks, though neither side has formally agreed to participate.

Following the Trump-Munir call, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, with both leaders agreeing on the need to reduce tensions and pursue diplomatic solutions. Reports suggest Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is preparing to visit Islamabad, while Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf may lead Tehran’s delegation, though he has dismissed reports of such talks as false.

Iranian diplomatic sources expressed deep mistrust toward Washington, rejecting any negotiations involving Witkoff or Jared Kushner. Tehran views recent US overtures as deceptive, especially after the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which undermined earlier dialogue efforts.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that his country is prepared to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran if both sides agree. In a post on X on Tuesday evening, he said Pakistan would feel honored to organize meaningful and conclusive discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Sharif emphasized that Pakistan welcomes and fully supports ongoing efforts to end war in the Middle East in the interest of peace and stability. His statement highlights Islamabad’s willingness to play a constructive role in regional diplomacy if Washington and Tehran consent to direct talks.

The offer reflects Pakistan’s positioning as a potential mediator in regional conflicts, though the source does not specify any response from the United States or Iran to this proposal.