Pakistan Eyes Iran US Talks Mediation As China Pushes For Peace

Islamabad – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Pakistan Iran US talks mediation efforts are quietly gaining momentum again, according to three Pakistani sources familiar with the matter. The renewed push follows encouragement from China and comes nearly five months into the ongoing war between Iran and the United States.

The sources said early conversations happened this week during a visit by Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, to Islamabad. It was his second trip in just ten days, showing how urgent the matter has become for Tehran.

Momeni, known to have close ties with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, held meetings with senior Pakistani leaders. He also met Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who leads Pakistan’s army and defence forces, according to official government statements.

Even so, all three sources warned that major hurdles still stand in the way of any real talks with Washington. The path forward remains uncertain and fragile.

A Tricky Balancing Act For Pakistan

Pakistan’s role as a possible mediator has grown more complicated in recent days. Yemen’s Houthi movement, which is backed by Iran, recently announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia.

This is a serious issue for Islamabad, since Saudi Arabia is a close partner and signed a mutual defence agreement with Pakistan last year. Pakistani officials have already spoken out strongly against the Houthi attacks.

Adding to the diplomatic activity, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reportedly discussed this new Middle East initiative with Chinese officials during his recent visit to China. This detail was confirmed by all three sources, who spoke anonymously since they were not permitted to talk publicly about it.

Neither Dar’s office nor Pakistan’s military media wing responded when asked to comment on these discussions.

China’s Growing Interest In The Region

China’s foreign ministry issued a statement supporting Pakistan’s mediation attempts, along with efforts from other involved parties. Beijing said it plans to keep playing an active part in bringing peace back to the Gulf region as quickly as possible.

This support makes sense given China’s deep economic ties with Iran. Beijing remains Iran’s top trading partner and buys most of its exported oil, even with international sanctions still in place, thanks to steep discounts.

Reports also suggest China has expanded its support for Iran through technology like dual-use components, chip-making equipment, and satellite navigation tools, although it has avoided direct military assistance since fighting began.

This isn’t China’s first attempt at helping ease tensions. Back in March, Beijing sent a special envoy on a shuttle diplomacy tour across the Middle East to support similar peace efforts.

Why Talks Broke Down Before

The United States and Iran had actually signed a memorandum of understanding back in June, aiming to end the conflict. That agreement came after mediation from both Pakistan and Qatar and gave a sixty-day window for deeper negotiations.

Unfortunately, indirect talks between the two nations made little progress. Each side accused the other of breaking the agreement, and fighting eventually started up again.

Making matters worse, the Houthis claimed responsibility on Thursday for striking two Saudi oil tankers, part of their new blockade strategy. This move could create a second major choke point for global oil supplies, alongside ongoing tension near the Strait of Hormuz.

Because of this rising conflict, Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts now face even greater pressure. A Pakistani official said that stopping attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries must happen first before any new talks can begin. This message has already been passed along to Iranian officials, the same official confirmed.