Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan has been invited to take part in upcoming talks between Iran and the United States focused on easing tensions between the two long-standing rivals, the Foreign Office confirmed on Tuesday.
Responding to a media query, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad had formally received the invitation to participate in the discussions.
According to a diplomatic source cited by Dawn, Pakistan’s involvement is being viewed as important due to its quiet diplomatic efforts in recent weeks to help facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran. The source added that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is likely to attend the meeting.
The talks are expected to be held in Turkiye on Friday, an Arab official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Meanwhile, US news outlet Axios reported, citing two unnamed sources and a US official, that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Istanbul. The discussions are likely to include the possibility of reviving negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
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A regional official told Reuters that the primary objective of the talks is to prevent further escalation and avoid any potential conflict between the two sides. The official said several regional countries have also been invited to participate at the foreign ministers’ level.
According to the source, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are among the countries invited. While the exact format of the meetings has yet to be finalised, the main session is expected to take place on Friday. The official stressed that initiating dialogue at this stage is crucial to calming tensions.
Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that he had directed Foreign Minister Araghchi to pursue what he described as “fair and equitable negotiations,” provided they take place in an atmosphere free from threats and unrealistic demands. In a series of posts on X, he said any talks would be conducted strictly within the framework of Iran’s national interests.
Read More: At UN, Pakistan Emphasizes Non-Interference in Iran
US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism about reaching an understanding with Iran, though he warned earlier this week that failure to secure a deal could lead to serious consequences.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Araghchi said Iran fully agrees with Washington’s stated position that Tehran should not develop nuclear weapons. “That could be the basis of a very good agreement,” he said, adding that Iran would expect the lifting of sanctions in return.
