Pakistan says US-Iran talks ‘ongoing’ as war spreads to new fronts

Pakistan confirmed on Thursday that negotiations between the United States and Iran remain "ongoing" even as the Middle East conflict widened across multiple fronts, with Islamabad pledging to do its "utmost" to restore full diplomatic engagement under a ceasefire framework signed last month.

Islamabad Pushes for Return to MoU

Foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad that talks between the two sides continued "particularly on the Strait of Hormuz and to de-escalate." He urged both Washington and Tehran to exercise "maximum restraint and fully adhere to their commitment to resume technical-level talks" under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and a Pakistan-Qatar joint statement issued on June 22.timesofisrael+2

"We are doing our utmost to bring all parties back to the Islamabad MoU," Andrabi said, adding that Pakistan remained engaged and would continue to support dialogue as the "only viable path forward."arabnews+1

The MoU was signed on June 18 after weeks of intensive diplomacy and was intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the broader conflict through 60 days of further negotiations. However, hostilities resumed on July 7 when Iran attacked commercial shipping in the strait, including a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker, accusing the US of violating the agreement. That attack prompted multiple waves of US strikes on Iranian military targets.islamabadpost

War Spreads to New Fronts

The diplomatic push came against a backdrop of rapid escalation. On Wednesday, Iran fired ballistic missiles at US military installations in Jordan, with Jordan's military saying it intercepted five missiles. Three US service members were killed at bases in Jordan earlier this month in what were the deadliest American losses since March.pakistantoday

Joint US-Saudi strikes hit Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces bases in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters, marking the first time Saudi Arabia publicly joined Washington in such operations. A drone also struck a US-owned floating storage tanker at Egypt's Damietta port, sparking a fire.pakistantoday

President Trump warned from the White House that the US would respond forcefully. "So it's our turn," he said, adding Washington would "hit them very hard." Reports on Thursday indicated US air strikes had resumed against Iranian targets, with explosions heard in several cities.thepakistanconnect+1

Fragile Diplomacy Amid Five Months of Conflict

Pakistan's mediation efforts have intensified in recent days. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held an unscheduled meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Sunday, spending 90 minutes in private talks focused on ceasefire stabilization and regional security. Pezeshkian praised Pakistan's diplomatic role, particularly that of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.goodreturns

Oil markets reacted sharply to the widening conflict, with Brent crude futures rising more than 8% on Wednesday, pushing above $90 a barrel. The five-month war, which Trump initially said would last only weeks, now stretches across Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, and the Persian Gulf.pakistantoday