Pakistan confirmed on Tuesday that it has been invited to participate in upcoming U.S.-Iran negotiations in Istanbul, as regional powers work behind the scenes to facilitate dialogue.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said Pakistan would attend the talks, which diplomatic sources indicated were made possible through extensive backchannel efforts involving both Islamabad and Ankara.
The meeting is expected to take place in Turkey on Friday, an Arab official told AFP on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the discussions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday confirmed that he had directed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to pursue “fair and equitable negotiations” that safeguard Iran’s interests in an environment “free from threats and unreasonable expectations,” according to posts on X.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly assured Tehran that their territories and airspace would not be used for military action against Iran, while Jordan has stated it would not serve as a “launching pad” for any attack.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed cautious optimism about the talks, saying Washington hopes to “work something out” with Tehran, but warned on Monday that “bad things would happen” if an agreement cannot be reached.
In a recent interview, Araghchi said Iran fully agrees with the U.S. position that Tehran will not pursue nuclear weapons, describing this as a potential foundation for a deal. He added that Iran expects sanctions relief in return.
However, Araghchi also cautioned that Tehran remains prepared for military conflict if negotiations fail, warning that any escalation could quickly extend beyond Iran’s borders.
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