Trump Says Pakistan Will Stay Involved in Iran Talks

US President Donald Trump has said Pakistan will remain involved in efforts to revive negotiations with Iran, even as Washington moves the next phase of contact away from in-person diplomacy and toward remote communication. His remarks came during a Fox News interview as Islamabad continues to position itself as a key mediator between the United States and Tehran.

Trump said the discussions with Iran could now proceed by telephone rather than through another high-profile diplomatic visit. The shift follows the cancellation of a planned trip to Islamabad by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, who had been expected to participate in a second round of engagement with Iranian representatives.

The latest development comes after Pakistan hosted an earlier round of direct US-Iran talks on April 11 and 12. Those discussions followed a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire announced on April 8 and ended without a final agreement, though the process did not collapse, leaving space for further diplomacy.

Acknowledging Islamabad’s role, Trump praised Pakistan’s efforts and said the country had been “terrific” in trying to support the process. He reiterated Washington’s central position that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, describing that demand as the core requirement for any future understanding.

Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership has been engaged in intense diplomatic outreach as regional tensions remain high. The government has sought to keep communication channels open between Washington and Tehran while managing the broader regional fallout of the conflict and its economic impact.

The diplomatic track has been complicated by disputes over maritime and energy security. The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint, while the US blockade of Iranian ports has added pressure to negotiations and raised concerns for countries, including Pakistan, that are vulnerable to energy-market shocks.

The ceasefire has reportedly been extended until Tehran submits a unified proposal and talks reach a conclusion. That extension has given mediators additional time, but it has also increased the pressure on all parties to define a workable framework before tensions escalate again.

For Pakistan, the stakes are both diplomatic and economic. A successful mediation effort would strengthen Islamabad’s international profile, while a breakdown could worsen regional instability, disrupt energy supplies and add pressure to Pakistan’s already sensitive external financing position.

The next stage will depend on whether Iran chooses to engage through the telephone-based format outlined by Trump and whether Washington is willing to keep Pakistan at the centre of the process. Islamabad’s immediate challenge is to maintain confidence on both sides while preventing the current pause from turning into a renewed confrontation.