West Asia conflict | Islamabad emerges as potential venue for US-Iran talks: Report

Pakistan has reportedly emerged as a key player in ongoing diplomatic efforts that attempt to ease tensions between the United States and Iran, according to Reuters.

This comes after US President Donald Trump said strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure had been paused for five days following what he described as ‘productive’; engagement with Tehran.

Reuters and Axios correspondent, said that Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt have been working to facilitate dialogue between the two sides. A senior Israeli official told Reuters that “contacts are underway” to organise talks in Islamabad involving high-level representatives from Washington and Tehran.

According to officials familiar with the matter, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is gaining prominence and could represent Tehran in the proposed discussions, the report added.

Reportedly, in addition to White House Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Vice President JD Vance may attend a proposed peace summit with Iranian officials

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir is said to have spoken with Donald Trump on Sunday, as reported by the Financial Times, in a move seen as part of Islamabad’s effort to position itself as a mediator in the conflict.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also held discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering Islamabad’s support for restoring peace in the region. 

Trump has maintained that negotiations are moving forward, stating that there are “major points of agreement” and that a deal could be close.  However, Iran has denied these assertions, stating that no talks with the US have taken place in the past 24 days.