By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Pakistan has offered to host high-level peace negotiations aimed at ending the rapidly escalating U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, marking one of the most significant diplomatic gestures since the conflict began nearly a month ago.
The proposal comes at a moment of mounting regional instability, soaring global energy prices, and intensifying military exchanges across the Middle East.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Tuesday that Pakistan stands “ready and honoured” to facilitate direct talks between Washington and Tehran, provided both sides agree. In a message posted on X, he emphasized Pakistan’s support for all ongoing international efforts to de-escalate tensions and pursue a lasting political settlement to the conflict.
The comments followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement on Monday claiming that “very good and productive” discussions with Iran had already begun—an assertion Tehran immediately denied, deepening confusion around the state of back-channel diplomacy. Despite the denial, Pakistan confirmed that preliminary planning for potential talks was underway, though officials cautioned the meeting would occur only if both parties issued formal approval.
Weeks of War and a Deepening Crisis
The conflict erupted on February 28 after the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, claiming negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program had reached a dead end. Regional mediator Oman, however, insisted that progress had been made before the attacks.
Since then, the war has expanded across multiple fronts:
- Iran has struck U.S.-linked military facilities across the region.
- Missile and drone attacks have targeted Gulf energy infrastructure, severely disrupting global oil and gas flows.
- The Strait of Hormuz—vital to one-fifth of global oil shipments—has been effectively closed, triggering the worst energy supply shock in history.
As markets reacted to Trump’s threat to target Iranian electricity plants, Brent crude prices briefly surged to $114.43 on Monday before steadying near $103 on Tuesday.
Conflicting Messages on Negotiations
Despite Trump’s claims that talks began Sunday and continued into Monday—reportedly involving Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner—Iran issued a direct rebuttal.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s powerful parliament speaker and the individual U.S. and Israeli officials identified as Tehran’s main point of contact, dismissed all reports of direct talks as “fake news.”
Iran’s foreign ministry acknowledged only broad diplomatic “initiatives” to reduce tensions. When one Iranian official suggested he could “control” the Strait of Hormuz alongside the Supreme Leader, Iran’s embassy in South Africa mockingly posted a picture on X of a pink plastic toy steering wheel — hinting at Tehran’s skepticism toward U.S. rhetoric.
Israel Prepares for a Long Fight
In Israel, officials expressed doubt that Iran would accept U.S. conditions, which are expected to include strict limits on ballistic missile development and nuclear enrichment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who spoke with Trump less than 48 hours before the war began—convened top security officials to evaluate Washington’s sudden push for diplomacy. Meanwhile, the battlefield continues to intensify:
- Israel announced plans to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, escalating its parallel conflict with Hezbollah.
- Iranian missiles triggered air raid sirens across Tel Aviv, blasting open residential buildings and carving craters into city streets.
- Israel responded with a major strike on central Tehran, hitting more than 50 targets linked to the IRGC and intelligence agencies.
- At least eight civilians were killed in Tabriz following an Israeli strike.
- The UAE intercepted five ballistic missiles and 17 drones fired from Iran.
Despite the heavy exchanges, there have been no signs of negotiations on the ground or any immediate ceasefire efforts.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Gamble
A senior Pakistani official revealed that arrangements for a possible meeting were at an advanced stage, though still uncertain. If successful, Pakistan would become the first nation to bring both sides to the negotiating table since the conflict began.
For Islamabad, the stakes are high:
- Pakistan maintains traditionally warm ties with Iran,
- while also relying heavily on U.S. military and economic partnership,
- and maintaining a cautious security relationship with Israel’s allies in the Gulf.
Hosting peace talks would place Pakistan at the centre of global diplomacy during one of the most dangerous Middle Eastern conflicts in decades.
Source Reuters
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