Pakistan says Iran-US mediation active as top officials continue regional outreach

Pakistan signaled on Friday that its mediation efforts in the Iran-US conflict remained active throughout the week.

The Foreign Office briefing came as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi entered his third day in Tehran on his second visit in less than a week, and as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prepared for a visit to China from May 23 to 26.

What is Pakistan doing to mediate the Iran-US conflict?

Pakistan has been relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, hosting indirect contacts, and repeatedly calling for de-escalation.

FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed that diplomatic engagement had continued throughout the week, with Shehbaz Sharif holding separate contacts with the Amir of Qatar and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar remaining in consultation with regional counterparts.

What did Pakistan's Foreign Office say about Asim Munir's reported Iran visit?

Responding to questions about reports of a possible Tehran visit by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the FO spokesperson said the government would "neither confirm nor deny" the matter at this stage.

Munir visited Tehran in April as part of what Pakistan's military described as ongoing mediation efforts. Separately, Shehbaz Sharif and Munir reviewed what the Prime Minister's Office called the "progress of Pakistan's mediatory efforts" and expressed satisfaction over de-escalation achieved so far.

How will Shehbaz Sharif raise the Iran-US crisis during his China visit?

The FO confirmed that Shehbaz Sharif will meet President Xi Jinping and the Chinese premier during the visit, which coincides with 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Discussions are expected to cover bilateral cooperation, regional developments, and diplomatic efforts linked to the Iran-US negotiations.

The premier will also co-chair a Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Conference aimed at boosting trade, investment and economic cooperation.

The FO said Pakistan and China maintained close coordination and mutual trust on regional developments. The China visit adds a multilateral dimension to Islamabad's outreach, which has so far focused on direct shuttle diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.

How did Pakistan become a key mediator in the Iran-US war?

Pakistan positioned itself as a mediator after US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the conflict on February 28. Islamabad has since hosted indirect contacts and acted as a back channel for exchanging proposals between the two sides.

Iran recently reviewed and responded to the latest US proposal, submitting a revised draft through Pakistani intermediaries, according to the AI overview of current reporting.

The mediation has drawn regional attention, with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister among those to publicly praise Pakistan's efforts. Pakistan has framed its role as one of facilitation rather than arbitration, consistently calling for dialogue while avoiding alignment with either side.