Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a 90-minute meeting with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss Pakistan’s ongoing mediation efforts aimed at fostering peace in the Middle East. The talks took place amid Islamabad’s active role in maintaining dialogue between the US and Iran.
During the meeting, President Pezeshkian highlighted that US and Israeli attacks on Iran were intended to destabilize the country. However, these plans were thwarted as neighboring countries refused to allow their territories to be used for such military operations. He expressed gratitude towards Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan for denying the use of their lands for attacks against Tehran.
In a separate engagement, Naqvi also met with Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who was part of the Iranian delegation involved in the peace discussions held in Islamabad. The two exchanged views on critical issues affecting bilateral and regional stability.
Naqvi arrived in Tehran a day earlier on a two-day official visit aimed at facilitating peace talks between the conflicting parties. Upon arrival, he met with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, who praised the efforts of Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in easing tensions with the United States.
Naqvi’s meeting with President Pezeshkian followed reports that Washington had failed to offer substantial concessions in response to Tehran’s peace proposals. Iranian media revealed that the US presented a five-point list demanding Iran limit its nuclear sites to one and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US. These demands were viewed as unrealistic and likely to stall negotiations.
Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Pakistan had received Iran’s reply to the US proposal but refrained from disclosing details. The Foreign Office later confirmed Islamabad had forwarded Tehran’s response to Washington, emphasizing that the peace process between the US and Iran remains ongoing and that Pakistan continues to engage constructively.
Pakistan has played a pivotal role as a mediator since brokering a ceasefire on April 8, which ended six weeks of hostilities that severely impacted global oil and energy markets. The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran. Tehran retaliated by targeting Israeli and US bases in the region and effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
Peace talks hosted by Islamabad between April 11 and 12 involved both sides but concluded without a permanent agreement due to disagreements over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and control of the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan’s mediation efforts continue amid these complex challenges, seeking a lasting resolution to the conflict.
