By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, during which the Iranian top diplomat briefed his Pakistani counterpart on his recent visit to China.

The call underscores the deepening diplomatic coordination between Islamabad and Tehran as both countries navigate shifting regional dynamics, including ongoing US-Iran negotiations facilitated by Pakistan.

According to a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Office, Araghchi shared details of his discussions in Beijing on "regional and international issues of mutual interest."

The two ministers exchanged views on recent regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability, the statement said.

While no specifics of the China consultations were disclosed, Araghchi's visit to Beijing comes at a critical juncture, with Iran engaged in high-stakes negotiations with the United States -- talks in which Pakistan has played a mediating role.

Araghchi also expressed gratitude to Pakistan for facilitating the repatriation of Iranian nationals from seized vessels earlier, the Foreign Office said.

"He appreciated Pakistan's continued diplomatic and humanitarian support in this regard," the statement read.

The reference appears to be to the 22 crew members of the seized Iranian container ship MV Touska, who were evacuated to Pakistan and later to Iran — a move Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson described last week as "a major confidence-building measure by the United States of America."

The call between Dar and Araghchi continues a pattern of regular high-level contact between the two nations. On May 4, the two ministers held a similar conversation on the regional situation and Pakistan's diplomatic efforts for peace.

Pakistan has positioned itself as a key facilitator between Tehran and Washington, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly welcoming the recent pause in the US "Project Freedom" naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi's China visit is seen by analysts as part of Tehran's broader strategy to engage with major powers amid ongoing negotiations with the United States. China, which brokered a landmark rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023, remains a key diplomatic and economic partner for Tehran.

For Pakistan, maintaining close communication with both Iran and China -- its "iron brother" -- is a strategic priority. The latest call suggests Islamabad is being kept informed of developments in Beijing-Tehran consultations as regional diplomacy intensifies.