Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday confirmed that indirect talks between Iran and the United States are underway, adding Pakistan is relaying messages between the two states.
“There has been unnecessary speculation in the media regarding peace talks to end ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” he wrote in a post on X. “In reality, U.S.-Iran indirect talks are taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan,” he added.
Dar confirmed that Washington had shared a 15-point peace plan, adding Tehran was currently deliberating on this proposal. “Brotherly countries of Turkiye and Egypt, among others, are also extending their support to this initiative,” he wrote.
“Pakistan remains fully committed to promoting peace and continues to make every effort to ensure stability in the region and beyond,” he emphasized. “Dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward!” he concluded.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause on hostilities between Iran and the United States, maintaining the two states were nearing a deal to resolve the war triggered by joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on Feb. 28. Media reports subsequently claimed Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt were playing a backchannel role in the détente attempts, seemingly validated by Trump sharing an X post by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing willingness to host talks in Islamabad.
Dar’s disclosure is the first formal confirmation of backchannel talks between Iran and the United States and Pakistan’s role as a go-between.