ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday spoke with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and briefed him on developments regarding the United States-Iran talks in Islamabad for a settlement to the Middle East conflict, the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
US and Iranian officials met in Islamabad on Saturday against the backdrop of a fragile two-week ceasefire announced days earlier that offered a lull in the six-week war, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.
However, the talks, which continued for over 20 hours, ended without an agreement to end the war that has disrupted global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and has seen Iran attack Israel and US interests in the Gulf in retaliation.
The Pakistani foreign ministry said that Dar stressed the importance of all parties adhering to the ceasefire commitments during his telephonic conversation with the Saudi foreign minister.
“Underscoring Pakistan’s role in facilitating the dialogue, he reaffirmed the resolve to continue supporting all diplomatic efforts and sustain dialogue to promote peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the ministry said.
At least two rounds of talks were held on Saturday, one through intermediaries and another involving direct talks as Pakistan hosted negotiations aimed at building on a two-week ceasefire announced earlier this week.
The main sticking points were not officially disclosed at the time, but US President Donald Trump on Sunday castigated Iran for not opening the Strait of Hormuz and said it had refused to concede on the issue of its nuclear program.
The European Union has urged further diplomatic efforts, while the foreign minister of Oman, on the southern coast of the Strait of Hormuz, has called for both parties to “make painful concessions.”
The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “emphasized his readiness” to help bring about a diplomatic settlement in a call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.
