WANA (Mar 29) – A multilateral diplomatic meeting involving senior regional officials began on Sunday, March 29, in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, with the aim of exploring ways to reduce tensions following the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran.

 

The meeting is hosted by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt. The talks are being chaired by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar.

 

According to official sources, the two-day discussions are focused on “reducing tensions, halting hostilities, and returning the parties to the path of diplomacy.” In this context, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized ahead of the meeting the need for “immediate and practical steps” to prevent further escalation of the crisis.

 

In a related development, Ishaq Dar announced that Iran has agreed to allow the passage of two Pakistani-flagged vessels per day through the Strait of Hormuz. He described the move as “constructive and positive,” viewing it as a sign of Tehran’s willingness to de-escalate tensions.

 

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump shared an image of Dar’s remarks on his social media platform without providing further comment.

 

Reports indicate that one of the key agenda items of the meeting is the creation of a regional mechanism to mediate between Tehran and Washington. In this regard, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a conversation with Shehbaz Sharif, welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to play a mediating role.

 

The meeting comes amid ongoing conflict that has lasted about a month, resulting in significant casualties and raising concerns over further escalation. According to international sources, the deployment of additional U.S. forces to the region and the involvement of Iran-aligned groups, including the Houthis, have added to the complexity of the situation.

 

Another major topic under discussion is a reported 15-point U.S. proposal to Iran, which allegedly includes restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as changes to the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have described the proposal as “one-sided.”

 

Recent developments have also had notable impacts on the global economy, including rising energy prices and disruptions to key shipping routes such as the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

 

At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has rejected the possibility of direct negotiations between Iran and the United States, while confirming that indirect message exchanges are ongoing through intermediaries. Pakistan has stated that it is actively facilitating communication between the two sides, emphasizing that “dialogue and diplomacy are the only path to resolving the crisis.”