Pakistan pitches mediation as U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran enters fourth week
Washington — Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday his country was prepared to host talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, as U.S. President Donald Trump reported “productive” contacts while Iranian officials denied negotiations were underway.
Sharif, writing on social media platform X, said Pakistan would be “ready and honoured” to facilitate “meaningful and conclusive talks” for a comprehensive settlement, subject to agreement by Washington and Tehran.
His statement comes as the war, involving U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks, entered its fourth week.Trump said on Monday that U.S. officials had engaged in “very good and productive” discussions with Iran over a “complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.”
He added that talks began on Sunday and continued into Monday, involving Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf rejected the U.S. account, saying no talks had taken place and describing reports of negotiations as “fake news,” according to Iranian state-linked statements and sources familiar with the matter.
The divergence underscores the opacity surrounding diplomatic efforts as fighting continues across the region.
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, citing a lack of progress in negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Mediator Oman had previously indicated that significant advances had been made in earlier discussions.
Since the strikes, Iran has responded with missile attacks and expanded its actions beyond Israeli territory, targeting countries hosting U.S. bases and striking Gulf energy infrastructure.
The conflict has disrupted global energy markets, with Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies transit.
The escalation has heightened concerns over supply stability and increased geopolitical risk across the Middle East, prompting renewed international calls for de-escalation through diplomatic channels.
