Pakistan is positioning itself as a key mediator to ease tensions between the United States and Iran, the Financial Times reports. The paper says Army Chief Asim Munir recently held talks with former US President Donald Trump as Islamabad increases diplomatic efforts to help end the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.
Officials familiar with the matter told the FT that Pakistan hosted talks this week between senior Trump administration figures and Iranian officials. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also communicated with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian as part of the outreach.
According to the report, Pakistan is working with Turkey and Egypt in “active back-channel diplomacy” to bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran. The efforts reportedly involve US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Senior Pakistani officials have been facilitating indirect communication between Tehran and key US figures, including Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Iran has denied engaging in direct negotiations with the US since the conflict began but acknowledged receiving messages through intermediary countries and said it had responded in line with its established positions. The report noted Pakistan’s neutral posture—no US bases on its soil and avoidance of direct involvement—has strengthened its credibility as a potential mediator.
The White House declined to elaborate on Trump’s negotiations, saying these are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not “negotiate through the news media,” the FT reported.
