ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar invited his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi to visit Pakistan during a telephone conversation on Monday, as both sides discussed the evolving regional security situation and rising tensions in the Middle East.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar and Araghchi exchanged views on recent developments in the region, including the situation in occupied East Jerusalem, and stressed the importance of continued diplomatic engagement to address regional challenges.
The Foreign Office said Dar extended an invitation to the Iranian foreign minister to visit Pakistan at the earliest, though no date for the visit was announced.
The conversation took place after Iran said Pakistan remained the key mediator in efforts to reduce tensions between Tehran and Washington despite the absence of direct talks between the two countries.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Pakistan, along with Türkiye and Qatar, was working to revive the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with Islamabad playing a central role in diplomatic efforts involving Iran and the United States.
Baghaei said there was no new mediator between Iran and the US and that no direct negotiations were currently taking place.
He added that Qatar continued to facilitate dialogue when required, while China was also using diplomatic channels to help reduce regional tensions.
The Iranian spokesperson said Tehran remained committed to diplomacy but warned that meaningful progress would remain difficult while hostilities continued.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were expected to begin, adding that he preferred a diplomatic solution over military action.
Trump said any possible agreement should ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and address concerns related to Iran’s nuclear programme. He also said he had delayed a planned military strike after Iran and regional countries requested more time for negotiations.
Baghaei said Iran’s discussions with Oman regarding a temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz were progressing positively, but clarified that the talks were separate from any decision to reopen the strategic waterway.
Iran has intensified diplomatic contacts in recent days, with Araghchi holding separate telephone conversations with Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan regarding regional security and efforts to prevent further escalation.
According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Araghchi and Munir discussed the impact of ongoing US and Israeli actions against Iran and stressed the need for regional cooperation and political solutions to avoid a wider conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key global shipping route, with a significant portion of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passing through the waterway.
Despite renewed diplomatic efforts, Israel has maintained that it would continue military action if Iran resumes its nuclear programme or expands its ballistic missile capabilities. Tehran, however, denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons.