In a high-stakes diplomatic push, Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif He held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Islamabad on Saturday.Araghchi arrived in Islamabad carrying Tehran’s official response to the US proposal, with discussions focusing on the “regional situation” and ceasefire dynamics. The meeting was attended by Pakistan’s top civilian and military leaders, including Army Chief Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
Araghchi praised the visit and called it “productive” in a post on It remains to be seen whether the United States is truly serious about diplomacy. “
Despite mediation efforts, US-Iran meeting still remains
Despite Pakistan’s attempts to mediate the negotiations, no direct or indirect contact took place between Iran and the United States. Tehran made clear it would not meet with the visiting U.S. delegation, which includes Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner.Instead, Iran expressed its position through Pakistani intermediaries, reiterating that any negotiations would remain indirect. A key precondition proposed by Tehran is the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.According to Dawn newspaper, officials and analysts said prospects for talks were “fast fading” and Islamabad was unable to bring both sides to the negotiating table despite hosting the talks at the same time.Islamabad has been placed under an unprecedented security lockdown ahead of the expected talks. Major roads were blocked, red zones were cordoned off, and daily life was severely disrupted.However, extensive security arrangements failed to bring about any diplomatic breakthrough. Expected high-level contacts between Washington and Tehran did not materialize, leaving Pakistan’s mediation efforts exposed.
Iran surrenders demands and leaves Islamabad
Araghchi left Islamabad that day after a series of meetings with Pakistani leaders, effectively ending hopes of a second round of talks in the city.According to reports, the Iranian delegation submitted a “formal list of demands” to Pakistan to communicate with the United States and its allies. These include conditions related to the end of hostilities and the lifting of sanctions and blockades.Araghchi later said Iran had expressed its “principled position” on a ceasefire and an end to what he called an “imposed war.”He now plans to visit Oman and Russia, signaling a shift in Tehran’s diplomatic focus away from Pakistan.
Trump cancels US delegation visit
In a major development, US President Donald Trump canceled a planned visit of the US envoy to Pakistan, citing a lack of meaningful engagement.“I’ve told my people… you’re not going to take an 18-hour flight to get there… We have all the cards. They can call us any time,” Trump said.The decision comes as Iran refuses to engage with the U.S. delegation, making the visit diplomatically redundant.In another post on The Truth Society, Trump wrote: “I just canceled my representative’s trip to Islamabad, Pakistan to meet with the Iranians. Too much time, too much work wasted traveling! On top of that there is huge infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership’. No one knows who is in charge, including themselves. And, we have all the cards, they don’t! If they want to talk, just call!!!”
Breakdown of talks mirrors earlier impasse
The failure of this round of diplomacy echoes the earlier first round of talks in Islamabad, which lasted more than 20 hours but failed to achieve any breakthrough.While indirect communications through Pakistan continue, core differences, including the lifting of sanctions and the maritime blockade, remain unresolved.
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Pakistan’s mediation efforts fail
Despite Pakistan’s attempts to position itself as a key mediator, the results highlight its limited influence over actual stakeholders.While Sharif called his meeting with Iran’s foreign minister a “warm and cordial exchange,” the failure to promote U.S.-Iran engagement underscores Islamabad’s marginal role in the broader geopolitical standoff.Pakistan’s ambitions for a decisive breakthrough in the conflict appear to have been dashed as Iran shifts diplomatic engagement toward Oman and Russia and the United States withdraws from direct engagement.
