ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday vowed to continue its diplomatic efforts for peace in the region as gaps persisted between the United States (US) and Iran on ending their eight-week war, which has disrupted global energy supplies and threatened economies.
Iran has offered to end its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its blockade on the country and an end to the war that began on Feb. 28, AP news agency reported on Monday, citing two regional officials.
Under the proposal, discussions on the larger question of Iran’s nuclear program would come later. US President Donald Trump seems unlikely to accept the offer. An existing ceasefire, announced on April 21, keeps the US and Iran in a fragile standoff over the strait.
Pakistan, which has emerged as a key mediator, twice hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi last week, but Trump held back envoys from traveling to Islamabad to engage in a second round of talks to end the war. On Monday, Pakistani FM Ishaq Dar held a meeting to review the developments.
“FM reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continue playing a constructive role through dialogue and diplomacy to promote peace and stability in the region,” the Pakistani foreign minister said, following Dar’s meeting with Pakistani diplomatic officials.
Separately, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Islamabad was firm in its resolve to help end the war through diplomacy.
“Pakistan, supported by our partners and brotherly countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt and others, has spearheaded constructive diplomatic efforts for de-escalation and broader pursuit of stability between the United States and Iran,” Ahmad said at a Security Council debate on maintenance of international peace and security.
“In its ongoing efforts to facilitate an enduring resolution of this crisis, Pakistan remains firm in its faith in diplomacy and dialogue and will continue to resolutely undertake all possible measures toward that end.”
The first round of peace talks between the US and Iran were held in Islamabad on Apr. 11-12. The talks failed to result in a peace deal, with US Vice President JD Vance saying that Iran had not chosen to accept Washington’s terms. Vance had said the US seeks a “fundamental commitment” from Tehran not to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran’s FM Araghchi on Monday blamed the US for the failure of the first round of talks as he arrived in Moscow, following his brief visit to Islamabad on Sunday.
“The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands and incorrect policies,” Araghchi told a reporter in Moscow.
Araghchi said it was hence necessary to hold consultations with Pakistan to review the latest situation in the region.
“Thank god, the visit was very positive, and we reviewed what had transpired and the conditions under which the negotiations could continue,” the Iranian foreign minister said.
A day earlier, Trump told Fox News that if Iran wanted to speak to the US, “they can come to us or they can call us.”
“They know what has to be in the agreement. It’s very simple: They cannot have a nuclear weapon, otherwise there’s no reason to meet,” the US president said.
Iran has long demanded Washington acknowledge its right to enrich uranium, which Tehran says it only seeks for peaceful purposes, but which Western powers say is aimed at building nuclear weapons.
