Pakistan has been invited to participate in the talks between Iran and the United States aimed at de-escalating tensions between them, according to Foreign Office (FO) confirmation on Tuesday.
“PK will join upcoming US-Iran talks,” FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated in response to a query. A diplomatic source revealed that Pakistan’s involvement was seen as vital for reducing conflict, as Islamabad has quietly been working towards facilitating the meetings. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to attend.
The meeting is likely to occur in Turkey on Friday, an Arab official told AFP under condition of anonymity, discussing a sensitive issue.
US outlet Axios reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was anticipated to meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Istanbul to discuss potential nuclear deals. The priority for these talks would be to prevent conflict and reduce tensions between the two sides, a regional official stated to Reuters, adding that some regional powers were also invited.
Some countries were expected at the foreign ministers’ level, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The format of these meetings was unclear but it was important to begin dialogue between parties to prevent further escalation. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Tuesday that Araghchi would pursue “fair and equitable negotiations” within the context of national interests.
Pezeshkian’s posts on X revealed that Trump maintained optimism, hoping Washington could “work something out” with Iran. However, he also warned about potential “bad things happening” if no deal is reached. In a CNN interview, Araghchi said: “President Trump asked for no nuclear weapons and we fully agree with him. We expect sanctions lifting.”