Pakistan, Qatar Push US-Iran Talks to Avert New War
Pakistan and Qatar have intensified diplomatic contacts with Washington and Tehran as renewed military exchanges threaten to derail a fragile de-escalation process linked to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. According to Pakistani sources cited in the report, both mediators are pressing the United States and Iran to halt further strikes and return to negotiations under the agreed framework.
The fresh diplomatic push comes after another round of strikes and counter-strikes raised fears of a wider confrontation in the Gulf region. The escalation followed reports of an Iranian missile attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global energy supplies and regional trade.
Pakistani sources close to the mediation effort said Islamabad and Doha remain engaged with both capitals and are urging them to avoid actions that could close the door on diplomacy. The sources described the situation as tense but not beyond repair, stressing that the Islamabad MoU still provides a workable basis for renewed talks.
The most significant complication came after US President Donald Trump publicly said the Islamabad MoU was “over,” casting doubt on the future of the arrangement. Pakistani officials, however, appear to be taking a more cautious view, arguing that the latest violence does not necessarily mean the diplomatic track has collapsed.
A source quoted in the report said the dispute between Washington and Tehran is deeply rooted and complex, making periodic setbacks likely. At the same time, Pakistani officials believe neither side sees benefit in allowing the conflict to expand into a full-scale war, particularly with regional shipping, energy markets and allied security interests already under pressure.
The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was signed last month as part of an effort to create a time-bound path toward a permanent settlement. Under that framework, the United States and Iran were expected to use a 60-day window to move from temporary restraint toward a broader pact aimed at ending months of hostilities.
The report also points to Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon as one of the key factors complicating implementation of the agreement. For mediators, the crisis is no longer confined to a single bilateral dispute; it is tied to a wider regional security environment involving the Gulf, Lebanon, Israel, Iran and US military posture.
For Pakistan, the stakes are both diplomatic and economic. A prolonged confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz could affect energy prices, shipping routes and regional stability, while also placing additional pressure on Pakistan’s role as a mediator between rival powers. Islamabad’s credibility now depends on whether it can keep communication channels open at a moment when public rhetoric is hardening.
The immediate next step will be whether Washington and Tehran respond to the Pakistan-Qatar initiative with restraint or further escalation. Pakistani sources remain hopeful that back-channel diplomacy can prevent a wider war, but they also acknowledge that more skirmishes cannot be ruled out given the depth of the crisis.