Iran has rejected claims of any negotiations with the United States regarding an extension of the ceasefire, contradicting reports that suggested both parties had agreed to prolong the truce established under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. A senior Iranian official emphasized that Tehran does not recognize a specific start date for the agreement, and therefore, from its perspective, there is no extension to discuss.
This statement followed a report by a Turkish news agency citing Pakistani government sources, which indicated that Washington and Tehran had consented to extend the 60-day ceasefire, originally set to expire on August 17. The same source mentioned that while both sides had expressed willingness to mediators to prolong the deadline, discussions were ongoing to determine the length of any extension.
The contrasting narratives emerge as Pakistan intensifies its diplomatic engagement to facilitate a resolution to the ongoing US-Iran tensions. Officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and security agencies declined to comment on the matter.
In a significant development, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran and met with prominent Iranian figures, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, as part of Pakistan’s mediation efforts. This visit followed a recent phone call between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which they discussed regional security and the newly signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Pakistan continues to position itself as a key mediator amid renewed diplomatic activities aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Tehran. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed optimism about the prospects of a peace arrangement, stating that recent signals suggest progress toward some form of agreement.
However, Iran has maintained that direct negotiations with the United States will not resume while it perceives breaches of the interim agreement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that Tehran and Washington are not engaged in direct talks, with communication limited to intermediaries, due to ongoing violations by the US.
The ceasefire, agreed upon in June and formalized through a memorandum of understanding on June 17, followed a period of intense military confrontations. Between July 8 and July 24, both countries exchanged strikes, with the US targeting sites inside Iran and Iran responding with attacks on US military assets in several Arab nations including Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
Since then, the ceasefire has been fragile, with accusations from Iran of US violations and continued American pressure on Tehran. The recent dispute over whether the ceasefire is subject to extension underscores the uncertainty surrounding the diplomatic process.
While some mutual consent to extend the truce, Iran’s position remains that without a defined start date, there is no basis for extension talks. Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts persist as officials strive to bridge differences and pave the way for a broader political settlement between the two nations.
