Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that a meeting of foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Türkiye concerning the ongoing Middle East conflict could be held this weekend in Islamabad. Originally, the gathering was scheduled to take place in Türkiye, but due to Pakistani officials needing to remain in their country, the venue was shifted to Pakistan’s capital.
Fidan emphasized that the primary goal of this meeting is to halt the war, noting that the negotiation phase appears to have arrived. He revealed that a message has been relayed through Pakistan, with the United States kept informed and Iran also being updated on the dialogue process. The Turkish minister expressed optimism about achieving peace, stating, “We would work for the peace without losing the hope.”
He further explained that the current stance in talks differs significantly from positions held before the conflict began, suggesting that demands will inevitably change. Fidan advised all parties involved not to cling rigidly to their initial positions. Reflecting on past experiences, he mentioned that Iran remains skeptical about the dialogue. “The entire world expects an early end of this unjust war,” he added.
In a related development, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul indicated on Friday that a direct US-Iran meeting in Pakistan is anticipated soon, although he did not disclose his source. Despite Tehran’s denial of official talks with Washington, Iranian media reported that Iran has responded to US President Donald Trump’s 15-point peace plan through Islamabad.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed confidence on Friday that Iran will engage in talks with the US within the week to resolve the month-long conflict. Speaking at a business forum in Miami, Witkoff said, “We think there will be meetings this week, we’re certainly hopeful for it.”
