Pakistan Pushes to Revive Iran-US Talks Under Islamabad MoU

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday that it was making intensive diplomatic efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. The Foreign Office outlined the initiative during its weekly briefing as renewed military activity threatened to deepen instability across the Middle East.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad remained concerned about the fragile regional security environment despite a period of relative calm that had briefly raised expectations of a durable ceasefire. He stressed that Pakistan continued to support every credible effort aimed at stopping hostilities and restoring direct engagement between Washington and Tehran.

The spokesperson described dialogue and diplomacy as the “only viable path forward,” arguing that further escalation would make unresolved disputes more difficult to address. Pakistan, he said, remained actively engaged with the relevant governments and would continue working to preserve the possibility of a negotiated settlement.

Andrabi said discussions were continuing to reduce tensions, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime energy routes. Islamabad was making its “utmost” effort to return both parties to the framework of the agreement so that outstanding concerns could be handled through the mechanisms already accepted by the sides.

Pakistan also urged the United States and Iran to exercise maximum restraint and honour their commitment to resume technical-level negotiations. The Foreign Office linked that process with the Pakistan-Qatar joint statement issued on June 22, reflecting the two mediators’ continuing attempts to keep diplomatic channels open during repeated cycles of confrontation.

The Islamabad MoU was signed on June 18 after sustained diplomatic engagement intended to support negotiations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and prevent the wider conflict from expanding. The arrangement created hope that structured talks could replace military retaliation, but its implementation came under growing pressure as relations between Tehran and Washington deteriorated again.

Tensions intensified from July 7 after an incident involving commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent American strikes on Iranian military targets. The conflict later widened further, with attacks and counterattacks affecting neighbouring countries, maritime infrastructure and armed groups operating across the region.

Fresh developments have added urgency to Pakistan’s mediation effort. The United States launched another round of strikes against Iran following reported attacks on American bases in Jordan, while US and Saudi forces also targeted Iran-aligned groups in Iraq after assaults on military and energy installations.

For Pakistan, prolonged regional instability could carry serious economic and strategic consequences. Disruption around major shipping routes may increase freight, insurance and energy costs, while a broader conflict could complicate Islamabad’s relations with Iran, Gulf partners and the United States. Pakistan’s diplomatic position therefore reflects both its mediation ambitions and its interest in preventing shocks that could affect fuel prices, trade and economic stability.

The next stage will depend on whether Washington and Tehran agree to return to technical discussions and use the Islamabad framework to settle their immediate disputes. Pakistan is expected to maintain contact with both sides and regional partners, but progress will require restraint on the battlefield and renewed political commitment to negotiations.