Pakistan has stated that Iran has confirmed its participation in peace talks with the United States to be held in Islamabad later this week, in a context of growing global efforts to reach a permanent agreement to end the war in the Middle East after a two-week ceasefire.
President Masoud Pezeshkian “reaffirmed Iran’s participation in the upcoming negotiations with the United States and expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s efforts,” according to a statement from the office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following a conversation between the two leaders on Wednesday. The United States has not confirmed its participation.
The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, and Tehran pledged to reopen the Strait of Hormuz hours before President Donald Trump gave a deadline to intensify attacks. Earlier, Pakistan’s Sharif had requested a ceasefire from both sides and offered to host them in Islamabad on April 10.
The temporary ceasefire gives both sides time to reach a long-term agreement to end the six-week conflict, which has caused the death of more than 5,300 people and triggered a global energy crisis.
Pakistan, a nuclear power, has taken advantage of its close ties with Iran – a country with which it shares a border – and with the United States to negotiate a ceasefire between both countries. For weeks, Pakistan held talks with Türkiye, Egypt and other countries to help end the war.
