ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received an invitation to join the upcoming talks between Iran and the United States aimed at reducing tensions, the Foreign Office announced on Tuesday.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andarabi confirmed to Geo News that Islamabad has been invited to participate in the negotiations scheduled to take place in Istanbul later this week. Sources within diplomatic circles indicated that these Iran-US discussions are part of discreet diplomatic efforts involving multiple regional players. Pakistan and Turkey are believed to have played a significant role behind the scenes in facilitating these backchannel engagements, which have helped create the conducive environment for dialogue.
It is likely that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will represent Pakistan at the de-escalation talks between Tehran and Washington, sources added.
According to a Reuters report, other nations invited to the talks at the foreign ministers’ level include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and the UAE. The precise format and agenda of the meetings remain unclear, but sources suggest that the main session is expected to convene on Friday, with the primary goal being to initiate dialogue and prevent further escalation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Tuesday that he had authorized the commencement of nuclear negotiations with the US, following recent threats from former US President Donald Trump, who warned of “bad consequences” if a deal was not reached.
“In response to regional requests and the US President’s proposal for negotiations, I have instructed our Foreign Minister to pursue negotiations, provided the environment is appropriate — free from threats and unreasonable demands,” Pezeshkian stated on X (formerly Twitter).
He emphasized that the talks would be conducted “in line with our national interests.”
Following protests last month, the US deployed an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East as a show of force. President Trump expressed hope that a resolution could be reached but cautioned that “bad things” could happen if negotiations failed. Iran maintains its preference for diplomacy and has repeatedly stated that discussions should focus solely on its nuclear program, rejecting negotiations over missile development or military capabilities.
In a Monday interview with CNN, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed optimism about reaching a deal, stating, “There is a real possibility of another round of talks if the US team follows through on President Trump’s statement to achieve a fair and equitable agreement that prevents nuclear proliferation.”
He added, “If those conditions are met, I am confident we can reach a mutually acceptable agreement.”Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stern warning of a “regional war” if the US takes any aggressive action against Iran.
A regional official told Reuters that the primary aim of the Istanbul talks this week is to de-escalate tensions and prevent any conflict between the US and Iran.
