The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey convened in Cairo on Sunday to discuss regional developments and the implementation of a United States-Iran peace deal, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry. The meeting came as US and Iranian officials arrived in Switzerland for follow-up talks on the interim agreement aimed at permanently ending hostilities.
R-4 Diplomatic Framework Meeting
The meeting, part of the R-4 diplomatic framework launched by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan in March, began in a "restricted format." The group was formed to intensify consultations to end the US-Iran conflict and help stabilize the Middle East. Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al Saud participated in the talks at Tahrir Palace in Cairo.
"The Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye discussed regional developments, implementation of the Islamabad MoU (memorandum of understanding), and priority areas of cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and regional ownership of shared challenges," the Pakistan foreign ministry said in a statement.
US-Iran Talks in Switzerland
Qatar confirmed the start of talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland aimed at a permanent end to the Middle East war. Qatar's foreign ministry announced "the launch of the Lake Lucerne Summit and the first meeting of the high-level committee with the participation of representatives from the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the two mediating states, the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan." It expressed hope that the meetings would "lead to a comprehensive and lasting agreement addressing all aspects covered by the Memorandum of Understanding," referring to an accord signed by the US and Iran earlier this week.
On the eve of the talks, Tehran announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz again over Israel's ongoing military campaign in Lebanon. The interim deal between the US and Iran is meant to stop fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon, and calls for billions of dollars of Iran's assets to be unfrozen.
Pakistan's Role and Bilateral Consultations
During his visit to Cairo, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also held bilateral consultations with Egyptian FM Abdelatty and was expected to call on President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, according to the Pakistani ministry. The discussions focused on expanding Pakistan-Egypt cooperation across a range of sectors as well as exchanging views on regional and international developments.
"Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye & Egypt continue to deepen cooperation for a more peaceful, stable, and connected region," the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
