Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in U.S.-Iran diplomacy after months of shuttle talks, draft revisions and regional coordination involving Gulf states and China. An interim understanding has been reached, but officials warn the most difficult phase of negotiations still lies ahead.
Since the conflict began on 28 February, Pakistani officials have served as an intermediary channel between Washington and Tehran, transmitting proposals and refining draft texts, according to sources familiar with the talks.
Islamabad reportedly “shuttled multiple peace proposals between both capitals” as negotiations repeatedly stalled over issues including access through the Strait of Hormuz and wider regional tensions.
A major breakthrough came with a 14-point interim framework presented by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, aimed at reducing hostilities and safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz, through which around one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies pass.
“There were many moments during the negotiations when it looked as if the process would grind to a halt,” Sharif told parliament.
Pakistan’s emergence reflects its unique diplomatic positioning. Unlike several Gulf states, it does not host U.S. military bases, helping to preserve Tehran’s trust while maintaining working relations with Washington, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Türkiye and Egypt.
Its geography - linking South Asia, the Middle East, China and the Arabian Sea - further strengthens its role as a regional connector.
Pakistan’s standing in Washington has also improved following its cooperation in the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, the alleged planner of the 2021 Kabul airport bombing, and its handling of the 2025 India–Pakistan crisis, which reinforced its image as a responsible regional actor.
This improvement has been reflected in a series of high-level contacts between U.S. and Pakistani officials, helping to preserve communication channels at a time when Washington was seeking credible intermediaries with access to Tehran.
Security concerns are central to Islamabad’s approach. Pakistan shares a nearly 900-kilometre border with Iran, and officials fear prolonged instability could increase cross-border violence, refugee flows and sectarian tensions.
Economic factors are equally significant. Nearly 90% of Pakistan’s crude oil imports come from Gulf states, while almost all LNG supplies originate from Qatar.
Officials estimate that heightened tensions could add around $600 million to Pakistan’s monthly oil import bill. More than half of the country’s roughly $30 billion in annual remittances also come from Gulf countries.
Disruptions to global supply chains have further increased fertiliser costs, affecting Pakistan’s agriculture sector, while a stable regional environment could boost demand for Pakistani labour in Gulf construction and healthcare sectors.
Islamabad maintains working channels with Washington, Tehran, Beijing and key Gulf capitals, enabling communication across multiple geopolitical divides.
Pakistan’s diplomatic value is further strengthened by its close ties with China, which relies on the Middle East for more than half of its energy imports.
Speaking to AnewZ's Inside Politics, former Pakistani Information Minister Mushahid Hussain said Islamabad’s mediation efforts reflect "the active support and cooperation of China", adding that "Pakistan and China are on the same page regarding South Asia and the Middle East and the prospects of peace".
Qatar played a facilitative role in the talks. A diplomat involved in the negotiations said Doha helped break a 10-day impasse by providing financial assurances to Iranian authorities and enabling indirect contacts.
Despite its growing influence, Pakistan remains a facilitator rather than a guarantor of any agreement.
Core disagreements over sanctions relief, Iran’s nuclear programme, proxy conflicts and regional security dynamics, including issues involving Israel and Lebanon, remain unresolved.
Nevertheless, Islamabad’s role has elevated its standing as a middle power capable of bridging rival geopolitical blocs, even as the outcome of a final agreement remains uncertain.
Police and ambulance crews are responding to reports of a collision involving two trains in the south east of England. Multiple people have been inju...
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave souther...
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze arrived in Dushanbe on 19 June 2026 for the first official visit by a Georgian head of government to Tajikis...
Pakistan and Iran are accelerating efforts to transform their shared border from a historically volatile frontier into a hub for trade and investment,...
A war of words has erupted between Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump after the U.S. President told Italian media that Meloni â€...
Police and ambulance crews are responding to reports of a collision involving two trains in the south east of England. Multiple people have been injured in the incident, UK media has reported.
The Caspian Sea has retreated by up to 35 kilometres along Kazakhstan's coastline since 2006, raising fresh concerns about the future of the world's largest inland body of water and the communities, industries and ecosystems that depend on it.
Islamic Society of Milwaukee President Salah Sarsour, ​a Palestinian American detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in March, was released from detention on Thursday after an order by a federal judge.Â
Labour mayor Andy Burnham cleared a path to ousting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after winning a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday in what could be most consequential local election in more than six decades.
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. President criticised Israel for its tactics against Hezbollah, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to tackle militants.Â
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statement on social media. Khamenei added that he himself "held a different view," to Trump, but allowed the agreement after receiving assurances from Iran's President.
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave southern Lebanon. Israel has said it agrees to the ceasefire, but has said its armed forces won't leave Lebanon and will resume hostilities if attacked.
Jorge Messi, the father of football star Lionel Messi, is under medical supervision and is "progressing favourably" while recovering from an undisclosed health condition, according to a family statement.
European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to extend sanctions against Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine for a further 12 months, marking the first time the restrictive measures have been renewed on an annual basis rather than the previous six-month cycle.
Russia is seeking to expand cooperation with Central Asian countries in the exploration, extraction and processing of rare earth metals, underlining the region's growing importance in the global race for critical raw materials.
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave southern Lebanon. Israel has said it agrees to the ceasefire, but has said its armed forces won't leave Lebanon and will resume hostilities if attacked.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze arrived in Dushanbe on 19 June 2026 for the first official visit by a Georgian head of government to Tajikistan, concluding a trip that produced a joint communiqué, multiple bilateral agreements and a new commission to deepen economic cooperation.
A territory-wide shutdown has brought daily life in Pakistan-administered Kashmir to a standstill following the deadliest unrest in years, which has left at least 24 people dead over nearly two weeks of protests.
Pakistan and Iran are accelerating efforts to transform their shared border from a historically volatile frontier into a hub for trade and investment, as both countries advance plans for a special economic zone and pursue a target of $10 billion in bilateral trade.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment