Pakistan Hosts Regional Talks on De-escalating US-Israel Strikes on Iran

By Neutral News Desk

*Islamabad, March 29, 2026*

As US and Israeli strikes on Iran reached their 30th day, foreign ministers from Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia gathered in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, for discussions aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East. The conflict has disrupted global energy supplies, contributing to an energy crisis.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud arrived on Sunday for two days of meetings with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The talks follow growing concerns over the conflict's regional and economic impacts, which have resulted in more than 3,000 deaths across the region as of late March, according to reports from Al Jazeera trackers (1,937 in Iran) and the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA, 3,230 total).

Al Jazeera correspondent Osama Bin Javaid, reporting from Islamabad, described the meetings as a platform initially discussed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He said Dar is seeking to build on this to form a regional group that could involve additional countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia.

The diplomatic effort follows a phone call on Saturday evening between Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to a readout on Araghchi’s official Telegram channel, Dar informed Araghchi about the four nations' initiative for an immediate halt to hostilities. Araghchi outlined Iranian allegations of attacks by US and Israeli forces on schools, hospitals, public infrastructure, and residential areas.

As an initial step, Pakistan announced that Iran had agreed to permit 20 Pakistani-flagged ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, at a rate of two per day. Bin Javaid reported this as a signal amid efforts to reopen the strait, through which about 20% of global oil and gas supplies pass.

The moves coincide with US President Donald Trump extending by 10 days a deadline for Iran to reopen the strait, citing the ongoing disruptions—described by some analysts as the most severe energy shortage since the 1973 oil embargo. Trump has transmitted a 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran, which Iranian officials rejected, countering with demands including cessation of US and Israeli military actions, reparations for damages, and security assurances against future strikes.

The strikes began on February 28, 2026, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites. According to a Trump administration statement, the actions were preemptive, based on intelligence indicating Iran was weeks from deploying a nuclear weapon against Israel and US interests. The strikes occurred amid US-Iran talks on Iran's nuclear program, mediated by Oman, which stated a deal had been "within reach" prior to the military operation.

Pakistan faces complex dynamics in hosting the talks. It maintains defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, shares a 900 km (560-mile) border and cultural links with Iran, and hosts the world's second-largest Shia population after Iran.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, noted the challenge of facilitating dialogue between the US and Iran. Political analyst Zahid Hussain described Pakistan's position as requiring careful navigation, pointing to its condemnation of recent strikes on Iran and Gulf states—explicitly naming Israel but not the US.

Relations between Washington and Islamabad have improved since Trump took office, succeeding Joe Biden. Trump has met twice with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, whom he called “my favorite field marshal.” Hussain said Pakistan is acting primarily as a conduit for messages between the US and Iran, lacking authority to enforce outcomes. He added that success could boost Pakistan's diplomatic standing, while prolongation would harm it economically.

Analysts view the talks as partly aligned with Trump's political priorities. Middle East policy expert Mahjoob Zweiri told Al Jazeera the discussions reference Trump's Board of Peace, established recently but stalled after Gaza proposals. Zweiri said the message appeals to Trump's stated peace goals.

Economic pressures underpin the initiative. Pakistan faces potential energy shortages and job losses for millions of citizens employed in Gulf states if the conflict expands. Gulf nations report sharp declines in energy exports due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. Near-daily Iranian drone and missile strikes have hit energy and industrial sites in the region, prompting some petroleum firms to invoke force majeure clauses.

Gulf countries have publicly condemned the Iranian strikes but have not responded militarily. Iran has targeted facilities in Gulf states, which maintain economic and security ties with the US; US bases in the area have faced repeated Iranian attacks since February 28.

Turkiye-based analyst Mahmoud Alloush said the conflict has heightened doubts among US allies about American security commitments. He described the Islamabad meeting as a step toward regional coordination to address geopolitical shifts and uncertainties in US engagement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Arab states to avoid joining military actions against Iran, with Foreign Minister Fidan visiting Arab capitals to contain escalation. Erdogan stated the region risks division amid broader tensions.

The diplomacy unfolds amid escalating events. On March 28, Yemen's Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, fired missiles at Israel—their first such attacks since the conflict began. This followed the arrival of thousands of additional US troops in the Middle East, including 2,500-3,500 Marines, per US military announcements.

US media outlets, citing administration sources, reported preparations for a potential ground operation. Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated on Sunday that Iranian forces are ready for a US ground assault. He dismissed diplomatic efforts as potential "cover" for escalation, vowing that Iranian responses would "set US troops on fire" if invaded, according to his official remarks.

From the US and Israeli perspectives, officials have emphasized the strikes' role in neutralizing Iran's nuclear threat. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the February actions as essential to prevent an "existential danger," while Trump administration briefings highlighted Iran's prior violations of nuclear commitments and support for proxy attacks, including over 170 Houthi strikes on shipping since late 2025.

Oman, continuing its mediator role, has urged all parties to resume nuclear talks. Saudi Arabia, hosting earlier discussions, stressed economic stabilization in joint statements. No immediate breakthroughs were reported from Islamabad as of Sunday evening, with ministers expected to issue a communique Monday.

The talks represent coordinated regional diplomacy but face skepticism from involved parties. Iranian state media reiterated preconditions for engagement, while a US State Department spokesperson welcomed "any genuine de-escalation efforts" without endorsing specifics. Israeli officials focused on ongoing threats from Iranian proxies.

Pakistan's facilitation underscores its strategic position, though analysts caution that broader involvement from major powers will be needed for progress. The Strait of Hormuz remains partially closed, with naval patrols by US, UK, and allied forces enforcing limited transits.

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