No decision has yet been made on the second round of talks between the US and Iran, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, according to a Reuters report.
The spokesman said that the nuclear issue is among the topics that the countries at war have been discussing for almost seven weeks.
Over the weekend, Islamabad hosted negotiators from the US, led by Vice President JD Vance, and Iran; however, they were unable to reach a peace agreement after the marathon, mainly due to disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program.
The two sides are closer to extending the ceasefire and restarting talks on a longer-term peace deal, the Associated Press reported, even as the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz intensifies.
On Wednesday, the White House said any further talks with Iran would likely take place in Islamabad, although no decision had been made on resuming talks.
Read also | Will the US and Iran hold a second round of peace talks? Trump says “in the next two days…”
“Pakistan supports de-escalation and ceasefire efforts”
Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is currently in Tehran to meet with Iranian officials in an effort to ease tensions in the Middle East. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is visiting Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, as part of a “collective effort” to promote regional peace and de-escalation.
“Pakistan is recognized for its constructive diplomatic engagement in support of de-escalation, ceasefire efforts, and broader stability efforts between the United States and Iran,” State Department spokesman Tahir Andrabi said.
Pakistan has encouraged dialogue, facilitated the exchange of messages and helped create a peaceful space for meaningful negotiations, such as the recent US-Iran negotiations, he added.
Read also | Strait of Hormuz Tolls: Can Iran Really Force Ships to Pay?
Asim Munir’s trip ‘was effective but…’: Iran
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the Pakistan army chief’s trip to Tehran had been effective in reducing differences in some areas, “but major disagreements still remain in the nuclear area…”
“More hopes have been raised to extend the truce and hold a second round of talks,” the official said, adding that the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium and the continuation of Iran’s nuclear restrictions are among the highly contentious issues for which no resolution has yet been found.
Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
A key priority for Pakistan’s mediation is reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, where tensions remain high as the US continues a blockade of vessels to and from Iran, launched on Monday.
The waterway has been effectively closed since the outbreak of war with US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration would increase Iran’s economic pain with new economic sanctions on countries that do business with it, calling the move the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign.
Read also | China asks Iran to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz
Late Wednesday, China’s foreign minister told his Iranian counterpart that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is an international demand.
Wang Yi told Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that Iran’s sovereignty, security and legitimate rights should be respected as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz, but freedom of navigation and security in the strait should be ensured.
“The work to restore normal passage through the strait is the unanimous call of the international community,” Wang said in a government statement.
