Pakistan invites Iranian FM Araghchi for talks as it seeks to keep mediator role alive

Pakistan has intensified diplomatic engagement with Iran, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar inviting his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to Islamabad for discussions. The invitation, extended during a phone call on Monday, underscores Islamabad's efforts to position itself as a key intermediary between Tehran and Washington amid renewed tensions.

The outreach comes two days after U.S. President Donald Trump suspended planned military strikes against Iran following appeals from regional allies. Iran's response to the invitation has not been publicly disclosed.

In a post on social media platform X, Pakistan's Foreign Office said the two ministers exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the deteriorating situation in East Jerusalem. The post confirmed that Dar invited Araghchi to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience. Separately, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has also reportedly invited his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, to Islamabad.

A senior Pakistani government official, speaking to PTI, said the latest outreach aims to reinforce Pakistan's position as a trusted intermediary at a time when diplomatic efforts remain fragile and the prospect of another military confrontation looms over the Gulf. The official added that Pakistan is maintaining a relatively low profile while diplomatic engagement continues behind the scenes.

Both Araghchi and Ghalibaf played prominent roles in recent U.S.-Iran negotiations. In June, the United States and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at bringing peace to West Asia, with Pakistan serving as a guarantor. Pakistan also hosted peace talks in April and participated as a mediator in technical-level discussions in Switzerland in the days following the MoU's signing.

The negotiations collapsed in early July amid mutual accusations of violations and deadlocked demands over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which a significant share of the world's energy supplies passes. Renewed military strikes followed the collapse.

Islamabad's latest diplomatic push comes amid fresh uncertainty over U.S.-Iran diplomacy. On Monday, Trump accused Iran's leadership of being "unbelievably duplicitous" after Tehran denied that negotiations with Washington were underway. While Trump maintained that talks were ongoing, Iranian officials said no negotiations were taking place or scheduled.

A day earlier, Trump said he had suspended planned military strikes on Iran after Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the leaders of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates urged him to allow more time for diplomacy. Pakistan was not specifically mentioned in his remarks.

Tehran, however, continues to publicly acknowledge Pakistan's role as a mediator. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghei said on Monday that Pakistan remained "the mediator in the discussions related to Iran and the U.S.," while Qatar was facilitating the process whenever required. He also clarified that no new mediator had been added, striking a nuanced note on the diplomatic arrangements.

Analysts note that Pakistan's sustained engagement reflects its broader interest in regional stability, given its proximity to the Gulf and its historical ties with both Washington and Tehran. The success of any mediation effort, however, remains contingent on the willingness of both sides to return to the negotiating table.