Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the war between the United States and Iran continued on Thursday despite renewed strikes and regional retaliation, officials and diplomats said. Pakistan's foreign ministry said the country would continue its efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran despite the fresh escalation, stressing the need for a negotiated settlement.
Pakistan's Stance on Mediation
“Pakistan remains deeply concerned at the situation in the region marked by recent escalation... we are of the view that diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles for achieving a negotiated settlement of all contentious issues,” foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi told journalists. “It is hard to be an optimist in the new exchange of hostilities. We haven’t lost hope, we remain engaged,” Andrabi said. “Let’s not draw curtains on Pakistan’s mediation approach,” he added.
Andrabi said Pakistan’s interior minister had recently returned from Tehran, confirming that he had delivered a message and letter from the prime minister to the Iranian leadership as part of Islamabad’s mediation efforts.
Other Diplomatic Channels
Other diplomatic efforts also appeared to be continuing. CNN reported on Thursday, citing a diplomatic source, that talks aimed at reaching a deal between Washington and Tehran remain on track following overnight negotiations. Efforts to reach a preliminary deal between Iran and the US have intensified, three Iranian sources told Reuters on Thursday, despite strikes launched by both sides, as they discuss a mechanism over releasing frozen Iranian funds.
Separately, Qatari negotiators departed Tehran on Thursday after discussions with Iranian officials that lasted into the early hours of the morning, a diplomat told AFP. The talks were conducted in coordination with the United States, the source said.
Military Escalation Continues
The diplomatic activity came despite a fresh round of military escalation. The United States launched a second wave of airstrikes on Iran early Thursday after President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations. Iran responded with strikes targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
The latest escalation comes as efforts to negotiate an end to the war face renewed uncertainty, with Iran insisting it will maintain its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy supplies and pushing oil prices higher.
