Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has invited Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to visit Islamabad, according to a readout of a phone call covering regional developments, as Pakistan moves to once again position itself as the central venue for diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.
Islamabad is separately reported to be preparing to extend invitations to both Araghchi and Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf for dedicated talks on the American track, signalling Pakistan’s intent to facilitate Iran’s next steps in its engagement with the United States at a moment when the two countries remain locked in a dangerous cycle of military strikes and counterstrikes.
The move is consistent with Pakistan’s established and increasingly prominent role in the conflict. Islamabad hosted the April talks led by US Vice President JD Vance, which produced the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Iran’s own foreign ministry spokesperson has since formally confirmed Pakistan as the lead mediator on Iran-US issues, with Qatar playing a supporting role.
The value Pakistan brings to this process is rare and hard to replicate. It retains genuine trust from both Washington and Tehran simultaneously, a diplomatic asset that few countries can claim given the depth of hostility between the two sides. By offering Islamabad again as a venue for structured engagement, Pakistan keeps itself central to whatever negotiated process ultimately produces a deal, should one materialise.
The invitation to Araghchi comes as the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran, struck in June, continues to unravel through daily exchanges of strikes, with both sides showing no immediate sign of returning to the negotiating table.
