Pakistan Pushes for US-Iran Talks Amid Escalating West Asia Crisis
Pakistan stated on Thursday that it is making every effort to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table, following a recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last month. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi declared at a press briefing in Islamabad, 'We support dialogue and diplomacy as they are the only viable path forward.'
Andrabi said Pakistan is 'doing its utmost' to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran, aiming to resolve outstanding issues under the Islamabad MoU and the Pakistan-Qatar joint statement of June 22. He expressed concern over the fragile security situation in West Asia despite a temporary lull in hostilities, hoping the pause would lead to a durable ceasefire and pave the way for dialogue.
'We welcome all efforts aimed at sustaining cessation of hostilities and resumption of dialogue between the U.S. and Iran,' Andrabi added, noting ongoing negotiations to normalise the situation, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. He urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint and honor commitments to resume technical-level talks.
The MoU, signed on June 18 after weeks of intensive diplomacy, envisioned reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the West Asia conflict—triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February—within 60 days of further negotiations. However, the understanding came under strain on July 7 when Iran attacked commercial shipping in the Strait, including a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker, accusing the United States of violating the agreement. The U.S. responded with multiple strikes on Iranian military targets.
The conflict has since widened. Yemen's Houthi rebels imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, extending the confrontation to another major maritime chokepoint. On July 29, explosions were reported at a natural gas port in Egypt, and a U.S.-owned floating storage tanker was reportedly targeted by a drone. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia also conducted joint strikes on Iran-backed paramilitary groups in Iraq in retaliation for attacks on U.S. troops and Saudi oil targets.
On Thursday, the U.S. struck Iran again after Tehran targeted American bases in Jordan. Hours later, Kuwait's Ministry of Defence reported an Iranian attack on a building belonging to a Chinese company north of the country, killing one worker and causing extensive material damage.
