Pakistan announced it will host talks between the United States and Iran in the “coming days,” even as Washington and Tehran sent mixed signals on the ongoing conflict.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who hosted a quadrilateral meeting of major Middle Eastern players in Islamabad, said both the United States and Iran have expressed trust in Pakistan as a facilitator for negotiations.
Islamabad’s statement came after President Donald Trump extended a deadline for threatened attacks on Iran’s energy sites to April 6, while also deploying thousands of Marines to the Middle East—a move that, according to The Washington Post, coincided with Pentagon preparations for potential ground operations in Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran on Saturday allowed passage of 20 additional energy vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, provided they were flying Pakistani flags. Earlier, Trump had described Tehran’s decision to allow 10 oil ships through the partially restricted route as a “gift.” At the same time, Iran’s Parliament Speaker dismissed the negotiations as a potential pretext for a ground invasion.
امریکا اور ایران کا مذاکرات کیلئے پاکستان پر اعتماد کا اظہار !
آئندہ چند روز میں امریکا ایران مذاکرات پاکستان میں ہونے کا امکان۔
پاکستان بات چیت کی میزبانی و سہولتکاری کو اپنے لیے اعزاز سمجھتا ہے۔
نائب وزیراعظم و وزیرخارجہ اسحاق ڈار pic.twitter.com/Z4Hjs6lwtv— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) March 29, 2026
Neither the United States nor Iran has commented on the prospects of the talks following Dar’s announcement.
Pakistan, earlier, also conveyed U.S. 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran while President Trump publicly endorse Islamabad’s diplomatic drive to arrange negotiations on resolving the conflict.
The conflict, meanwhile, continues to escalate. The U.S. and Israel have persisted with airstrikes on Iran, while Iran has retaliated with counterattacks on Israel and energy-rich Middle Eastern countries. The violence has also spread to Lebanon.
Pakistan’s diplomatic role
In his comments, Dar did not specify whether the talks between the United States and Iran would be direct or indirect but emphasized that both Washington and Tehran had expressed confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the discussions.
In a televised address on Sunday, Dar said Pakistan will “host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides” with the goal of achieving a “comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict.”
Islamabad secures Hormuz passage for 20 more Pakistan-flagged ships amid Iran diplomacy
Earlier, Dar hosted a four-way meeting that included the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt. He noted that the discussions were part of a continuing diplomatic process, recalling that “our first meeting was held in Riyadh on March 19, 2026,” while the latest round in Islamabad represented the second consultation among the four countries.
He said participants engaged in “very detailed and in-depth discussions” on the evolving regional landscape, focusing particularly on pathways to end the conflict.
According to Dar, the participating countries collectively agreed that the ongoing war “is not in favor of anyone and would only lead to death and destruction.” He stressed that unity within the Muslim world is “of utmost importance” in such challenging times, highlighting the need for coordinated diplomatic efforts.
Diplomacy tries to create space for communication
A key development highlighted by the Foreign Minister was Pakistan’s potential role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States. Dar said he had briefed the visiting dignitaries on prospects for such talks, adding that the visiting foreign ministers had expressed their “fullest support” for the initiative. He further explained that they “reaffirmed unity to contain the situation, reduce the risks of military escalation, and create conditions for structured negotiations between relevant parties.”
The consensus emerging from the quadrilateral meeting strongly emphasized diplomacy. Dar said the foreign ministers collectively advocated “dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable pathway to prevent conflict and to promote regional peace and harmony,” while also calling for adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter, including “respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.”
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In addition to addressing the U.S.-Iran tensions, the meeting explored avenues to deepen cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt. Dar said the four countries discussed “ways and means to further strengthen mutual cooperation” across various domains, reflecting an intent to expand the scope of regional collaboration beyond immediate crisis management.
Convergence of key ME players in Islamabad
Pakistan’s leadership, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has maintained active engagement with regional and global partners, Dar said. He underscored that Pakistan has consistently remained involved in “all efforts and initiatives aimed at bringing this conflict to an end.” He also highlighted Pakistan’s “very important relationship” with the United States, noting that sustained diplomatic engagement has been part of Islamabad’s de-escalation strategy.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir had a telephonic conversation with President Donald Trump, after the U.S. leader announced Washington and Tehran were negotiating to find a solution to the conflict. Trump has maintained all along that Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and also called for rollback of its missile capabilities.
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Dar stated that “both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks.” He added that Pakistan would be “honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days,” with the aim of achieving a “comprehensive and lasting settlement” of the ongoing conflict.
Further reinforcing international support, Dar revealed that he had discussed the initiative with several global leaders. He said he had spoken with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who “fully supports Pakistan’s initiative to host Iran–US talks.” Similarly, he mentioned a conversation with the United Nations Secretary-General, who also expressed “full support for the peace initiative by Pakistan.”
Additionally, Dar said he had engaged in multiple phone calls with various foreign counterparts worldwide, all of whom “extended their full support and confidence” in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts. He emphasized that there is “strong appreciation and support among all our friends” for Pakistan’s role in promoting peace and stability.
Quadrilateral framework and broader context
The quadrilateral mechanism is increasingly being viewed as a key diplomatic track, feeding into broader international efforts to de-escalate tensions. It aims to consolidate regional support, align positions ahead of any potential Iran–US engagement, and facilitate structured dialogue between relevant parties. Although neither Washington nor Tehran participated directly in the Islamabad meeting, it is being interpreted as an important preparatory step toward opening channels for future negotiations.
Dar concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude to the visiting delegations for their support and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue its diplomatic efforts. He appealed for “prayers and the support of the entire international community” to ensure the success of this initiative, reiterating that Pakistan will pursue peace with “sincerity and commitment” in the days ahead.
🔊PR No.8️⃣2️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister /Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the Conclusion of 2nd Meeting of Four Foreign Ministers
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/JpUbUdhzLb
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2026
Convened on the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the quadrilateral meeting was not only aimed at reviewing the evolving regional situation but also at discussing a range of issues of mutual interest, according to the Foreign Office.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, Dar shared a message on X expressing his appreciation for the visit of the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt to Islamabad. He said he was “pleased to welcome” the delegations for consultations, adding that their presence at such a critical moment reflected the strength of fraternal ties.
He further noted that the discussions were “candid and constructive,” focusing on the changing regional dynamics and the shared objective of promoting peace and stability. Dar also emphasized that the talks aimed at strengthening partnerships and expanding cooperation across multiple areas.
The quadrilateral framework is increasingly being seen as an important diplomatic channel supporting broader efforts to resolve the conflict. It is intended to help build regional consensus for de-escalation, align positions ahead of any potential Iran–US engagement, and encourage meaningful dialogue between the concerned parties.
Although neither the United States nor Iran participated in the meeting, it is still regarded as a preliminary and constructive step toward opening the door for wider diplomatic engagement in the future.
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
Ali Imran is a Washington-based journalist, who has worked for leading world news organizations as correspondent, expert and in editorial positions. He is a published author and poet.
