Pakistani Minister Continues Tehran Mediation Push; Iran Response to Trump Edits Pending
A Pakistani minister continues to press the struggling US-Iran peace process from Tehran into Sunday. Pakistan has played the principal mediator role between Washington and Tehran since the early phase of the war, hosting talks in Islamabad and channelling messages between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoys. The Iran framework deal sits in operational impasse pending Tehran’s response to President Donald Trump’s tougher edits on enriched-uranium disposal pathway and Strait of Hormuz governance. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Pakistan’s mediator role has been the structural Iranian channel into Washington since the early-summer phase of the war began. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi previously delivered the US framework message to Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi in Tehran. The framework as originally drafted would extend the ceasefire by 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz with no tolls, lift the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, allow Iran to sell oil freely under sanctions waivers, and start new nuclear-programme talks. Iran’s chief negotiator said earlier in the week the United States is “not to be trusted”. The Pakistani Sunday continuation is the most significant external diplomatic push since the framework collapse began. The Monday London open will pivot on whether Iran has responded to the Pakistani-channelled US message over the weekend.