Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday to address recent developments in the region. Both officials underscored the critical importance of maintaining uninterrupted energy supplies and ensuring the safe and swift passage of ships, highlighting the significant impact these factors have on developing nations and global supply chains.
Dar emphasized that dialogue and diplomatic engagement remain the only effective means to achieve peace and stability across the region. The two ministers agreed to sustain close coordination and cooperation, arranging to meet again on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In a related development on September 17, Araghchi spoke by phone with Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, to discuss regional issues and shared interests. This conversation took place while Araghchi was in Beijing, where he also engaged with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not provide further details on these talks. These diplomatic efforts occur amid ongoing consultations as Tehran evaluates the evolving security landscape with regional partners.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is preparing to address a more skeptical international audience at the United Nations as the conflict with Iran enters its seventh month. The war has shown little sign of resolution, generating broader regional and economic risks. When Trump spoke at the UN last year, he portrayed US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities as a significant achievement and claimed progress toward peace between Israel and Iran. However, since then, the conflict has escalated.
Trump supported Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, citing an imminent nuclear threat, though experts have questioned claims that Tehran was close to developing a nuclear weapon. Iran has persisted despite substantial military and economic pressure, retaining a stockpile of highly enriched uranium believed to have survived previous US attacks. Additionally, Iran’s disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to rising global energy prices.
The situation has been further complicated by the growing influence of Yemen’s Houthi movement, which has tightened control around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another crucial shipping lane. This development has increased pressure on global trade and energy supplies and raised concerns among US Gulf allies regarding Washington’s security commitments. Trump has resisted Saudi calls for direct US military intervention against the Houthis, wary of expanding a conflict that has already strained American military resources.
European and Asian allies have largely refrained from supporting Trump’s war efforts, while the economic consequences, including higher US fuel prices, have intensified domestic political pressures ahead of the November midterm elections. Although Trump has expressed hope that the conflict is nearing its end, analysts anticipate the war could extend well beyond the elections.
Pakistan has consistently advocated for de-escalation and dialogue as the path to peace, having facilitated talks between Iran and the US in April this year. This diplomatic role has sparked discussions on whether Pakistan can convert its mediation efforts into economic benefits. In June, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir participated in high-level negotiations in Switzerland aimed at advancing a resolution to the Iran-US conflict, culminating months of Pakistani diplomatic engagement. This initiative has been welcomed by the United States, Iran, and other nations concerned about disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, global oil supplies, and the wider economy.
Analysts note that Pakistan’s mediator role grants it diplomatic leverage with multiple parties, including Washington, Tehran, Gulf states, Türkiye, and China. Unlike its post-9/11 position as a frontline state in Afghanistan, Islamabad now seeks to establish itself as a proponent of de-escalation and dialogue. This diplomatic capital could foster increased foreign investment, trade, and economic partnerships. Opportunities have been identified for closer integration with the Middle East, enhanced economic and defense ties with Gulf countries and Türkiye, and expanded trade with Iran should sanctions be eased.
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