Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote in X that his country is ready to “facilitate meaningful and conclusive negotiations” to end the war in the Middle East.
The United States had agreed “in principle” to participate in talks in Pakistan, according to three Pakistani officials, an Egyptian official and a Gulf diplomat, while mediators were still trying to convince Iran. Pakistani officials said the “quiet diplomacy” became more complicated after the news leaked.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to provide details to the press. The State Department declined to comment on the reported efforts and instead referred to Trump’s statements about talks he said were taking place directly between Iran and the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s office said he has been discussing the war this week with his counterparts in several countries. But the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, called the idea of negotiations “fake news”. Additionally, an Iranian military spokesman released a new statement in a defiant tone.
“Iran’s powerful armed forces are proud, victorious and firm in defending the integrity of the country, and this path will continue until complete victory,” said Major General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi on Tuesday, quoted by Iranian state television.
Aliabadi did not explain what this victory would look like, but the Iranian military may have tried to warn against concessions in possible negotiations.
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Additionally, an Egyptian official said efforts focus on “building trust” between the United States and Iran, with the aim of achieving a lull in the fighting. Israel does not participate.
The official, who is involved in the negotiations, said the priority is to prevent attacks on the energy infrastructure of both Iran and Gulf Arab countries, and that mediators are working on a “mechanism” for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Negotiation talks temporarily brought down oil prices and boosted stock markets. But this relief was short-lived: the price of Brent, an international reference, once again surpassed US$100 per barrel this Tuesday, an increase of almost 40% since the start of the war. (With information from the Associated Press).
