A senior Pakistani delegation is engaging Iranian officials as efforts intensify to extend a ceasefire and revive negotiations amid ongoing regional tensions.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A senior delegation from Pakistan arrived in Tehran on Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts to reduce tensions and facilitate a new round of negotiations between the United States and Iran following nearly seven weeks of conflict.
According to Pakistan’s military, the delegation is led by the country’s army chief and includes the interior minister and other senior security officials. The visit was described as part of broader mediation efforts, though specific details were not disclosed.
Pakistan has taken on a central diplomatic role in recent weeks, having hosted direct talks between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Islamabad. Officials said those discussions narrowed differences but did not produce a final agreement.
At the same time, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif traveled to Saudi Arabia for meetings with regional leaders. A statement from his office said he was received in Jeddah by senior Saudi officials and was accompanied by members of his cabinet, including the foreign and information ministers.
The diplomatic activity comes as a fragile ceasefire remains under pressure. Regional officials said there has been progress toward extending the truce to allow more time for negotiations, though a U.S. official indicated that no formal agreement has been reached.
Iranian officials confirmed that discussions during the Pakistani delegation’s visit would address positions from both Washington and Tehran. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Pakistan has already engaged with U.S. officials and would now facilitate further dialogue.
Meanwhile, tensions persist alongside the diplomatic push. Iran’s military leadership warned that trade in the region could be disrupted if the U.S. naval blockade remains in place.
Key issues remain unresolved ahead of the current ceasefire deadline. Mediators are focusing on disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and potential compensation related to wartime damages.
Iran has indicated it is open to discussing limits on uranium enrichment but maintains it must retain the ability to continue enrichment at levels it deems necessary. During recent negotiations, the U.S. delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, proposed a long-term suspension of enrichment, while Iranian negotiators countered with a shorter-term pause. U.S. officials declined the proposal.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that a resolution could be near, stating, “I think they want to make a deal very badly,” and adding that he views the conflict as “very close to over.”
Trump also said China has agreed not to provide weapons to Iran and suggested coordination between Washington and Beijing could support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments.
Military pressure remains a central component of the U.S. strategy. U.S. Central Command reported that no vessels breached the blockade in its initial 48 hours and that multiple merchant ships complied with orders to turn back.
The conflict, now in its seventh week, has resulted in thousands of casualties across the region and disrupted global markets. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—through which a significant share of the world’s oil typically passes—has been sharply reduced, contributing to volatility in energy prices.
As mediation efforts continue, officials say the coming days will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire can be extended and negotiations resumed, or whether tensions will escalate further.
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