Pakistan makes a halt to Iranian attacks on the Gulf a precondition for resuming talks with Washington.
Pakistan makes a halt to Iranian attacks on the Gulf a precondition for resuming talks with Washington.
2026-07-24
Shafaq News – Islamabad
A Pakistani official revealed on Friday that halting Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states is now a precondition for resuming any talks to end the nearly five-month-long war between Tehran and Washington, confirming that Pakistan has already conveyed this message to the Iranian side.
Three Pakistani sources told Reuters that Islamabad is exploring a path to restart stalled talks between the United States and Iran, as part of an effort initiated by China, stressing that the obstacles to any talks with the United States remain significant.
Sources said Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed the new efforts in the Middle East with Chinese officials during his visit to China last week.
A Pakistani government official said: “The Chinese are upset because Iran’s attacks on other Gulf states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz harm their interests,” adding that the unrest in the Red Sea would affect another major trade route that Beijing relies on.
For its part, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it supports the mediation efforts of Pakistan and other parties, adding that Beijing will continue to play an active role in restoring peace and stability in the Gulf region as soon as possible.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding last June to move towards ending the war, following mediation by Pakistan and Qatar.
The memorandum was intended to provide a 60-day window for negotiations to reach a permanent agreement, but the indirect talks did not lead to any progress, and the two sides exchanged accusations of violations, until the conflict was renewed.
shafaq.com
