Pakistan's PM speaks with Iranian president ahead of 4-nation Islamabad peace talks
The Times of Israel • • world
Key Points:
- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a detailed phone call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing condemnation of Israeli attacks on Iran and emphasizing Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue and de-escalation in the Middle East conflict.
- Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey are set to meet in Islamabad for talks aimed at reducing regional tensions, with Pakistan hosting and mediating the discussions.
- Pakistan has positioned itself as a key intermediary between Iran and the United States, relaying messages amid ongoing conflict, though neither the US nor Iran are expected to attend the upcoming ministerial talks.
- Iran has communicated its response to a 15-point peace plan proposed by former US President Donald Trump through Pakistan, highlighting Islamabad’s diplomatic role despite Tehran’s refusal to acknowledge official US-Iran talks.
- The meeting, originally planned for Turkey, underscores Pakistan’s strategic relationships with Tehran, Gulf countries, and the US, and reflects ongoing efforts to foster trust and facilitate negotiations to end the war.
