Pakistan Hosts Four-Nation Diplomatic Forum to Promote Regional Cooperation

Foreign Ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey Meet to Discuss US-Iran Diplomacy

Islamabad, Pakistan – Foreign ministers from four countries, including Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, gathered in Islamabad for a two-day meeting aimed at facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran. The talks are part of a coordinated regional effort to promote de-escalation in the conflict between the US and Iran.

The meeting follows a series of high-level phone calls between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which focused on addressing trust issues and confidence-building measures. According to officials, Tehran has expressed concerns about Washington’s intentions due to previous attacks during nuclear talks.

The Islamabad gathering is the latest development in a mechanism first discussed among Muslim and Arab states in Riyadh earlier this month. The meeting has hardened into a four-country diplomatic track, with Pakistan serving as the central interlocutor between Iran and the US.

China has expressed support for Tehran’s mediation efforts, while diplomats emphasize that the meeting is not designed to produce a ceasefire. Instead, its purpose is to align regional positions and prepare the ground for possible direct US-Iran engagement.

Officials suggest that talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi could take place within days, potentially in Pakistan. However, timelines remain conditional, and any meeting would likely require Washington to announce a temporary pause in strikes to meet Tehran’s demands.

The four-country meeting will review Iran’s response and coordinate messaging back to Washington. Tehran has transmitted its reply to the US proposal via Islamabad, according to officials familiar with the process. The meeting is expected to focus on issues such as an end to hostilities, reparations for damages, guarantees against future attacks, and recognition of Iran’s strategic leverage in the Strait of Hormuz.

The meeting comes amid concerns over Israel’s involvement in the conflict and the need for a dialogue that promotes mutual respect and an end to violence.

Source: Al Jazeera