Foreign Ministers Dar and Araghchi hold phone conversation amid renewed efforts to bring US and Iran to negotiating table in Islamabad

By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Iran have agreed to maintain close contact as Islamabad intensifies its diplomatic efforts to broker peace talks between Tehran and Washington, with the two foreign ministers holding a telephone conversation late Saturday to discuss the evolving regional situation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two leaders exchanged views on the rapidly changing security landscape in West Asia.

Dar reiterated Pakistan’s support for “all efforts aimed at de-escalation” and underscored the importance of resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy, the statement read. Both foreign ministers agreed to remain in close consultation “in view of ongoing development.”

The phone call comes just days after Araghchi publicly rejected Western media reports claiming Iran had refused to participate in Pakistan-mediated talks with the United States.

- ‘Pakistan Zindabad’: Iran Clarifies Position

On Saturday, Araghchi took to social media to set the record straight, accusing US media of misrepresenting Iran’s position.

“Iran’s position is being misrepresented by U.S. media,” Araghchi wrote. “We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad.”

He added that what Tehran seeks are “fair terms for a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war imposed on us” — deliberately emphasizing “END” to distinguish Iran’s demand for a permanent resolution from a temporary ceasefire.

The Iranian foreign minister concluded his message with the words “Pakistan Zindabad” (Long Live Pakistan) — a rare public expression of solidarity from a senior Iranian official toward its neighbor.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Dar responded swiftly and warmly to his Iranian counterpart.

“Truly appreciate your clarification, my dear brother @Araghchi,” Dar wrote, reaffirming the close ties between the two nations and signaling that diplomatic channels remain open and functional despite efforts by some Western and Indian media outlets to suggest otherwise.

The exchange was widely seen as a coordinated effort by both capitals to dismiss speculation that mediation efforts had hit a roadblock.

- Pakistan’s Unique Mediation Role

Political analysts say Pakistan has emerged as the only country capable of bridging the vast divide between Washington and Tehran.

“Currently, Pakistan is the only country that could bring both the US and Iran to the table in Islamabad, and both sides have agreed in principle,” said Babar Khan, a Bangkok-based political analyst.

However, significant hurdles remain. Iran has reportedly demanded that any peace agreement be guaranteed by multiple powers — including China, Pakistan, and Turkey — given Tehran’s deep distrust of the United States following Washington’s 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the landmark nuclear deal.

“Iran wants an end to the war, not just a ceasefire,” said Pakistani political analyst Abdul Saboor. “The US broke its promises before. This time, Iran wants guarantors that the US will not break its promise again.”

The renewed diplomatic push comes as US President Donald Trump faces mounting pressure at home and abroad. The US military has lost at least seven aircraft since launching Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, CNN reported Saturday, including F-15s, an A-10, an E-3 Sentry, and an F-35 forced to make an emergency landing after being hit by Iranian fire.

Global energy prices have soared as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, creating what economists have dubbed the “Trump energy crisis.” European allies, including France and Germany, have publicly distanced themselves from Washington’s approach, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning that bombing will “never deliver” peace.

Despite the challenges, analysts expect peace talks to move forward in the coming weeks.

“Peace talks will happen soon in Islamabad, and this war will end,” Saboor predicted. “Trump will not bear world pressure any longer — his war has put the whole world into an economic and energy crisis. There is no other way. Even President Macron advised him the same.”

The late-night phone conversation between Dar and Araghchi suggests that both capitals are working to maintain momentum. With Iran reaffirming its willingness to come to Islamabad and Pakistan’s diplomatic machinery fully mobilized, the stage appears set for high-stakes negotiations that could determine the future of the region.