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War in Iran
(L to R) Egypt's FM Badr Abdelatty, Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Pakistan's FM Ishaq Dar, and Turkiye’s FM Hakan Fidan Dar urged dialogue to contain the conflict and enhance regional security.
Four foreign ministers hold talks in Pakistan’s capital, discuss ways to enhance security, de-escalate crisis

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday hosted the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye for high-level consultations aimed at deescalating tensions in a region shaken by a widening conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, as Islamabad positions itself at the center of an intense diplomatic effort to prevent further escalation.

The Saudi Press Agency said the participants discussed regional developments and focused on coordination and consultation regarding these issues and emphasized the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis and enhance regional security and stability.

The arrival of the three senior diplomats — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan — in Istanbul underscored the urgency of a crisis that has already begun to disrupt energy flows, air-travel corridors and broader regional stability.

The quadrilateral meeting was part of Pakistan’s latest effort to mediate the war in the Middle East. The foreign ministers later held talks with Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan.

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, chaired the talks, which brought together key regional powers at a moment analysts described as pivotal for determining whether diplomacy can still contain the conflict.

“Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is visiting Pakistan alongside the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Egypt for consultations on the evolving regional situation and ongoing efforts aimed at de-escalation,” the Pakistani foreign office said.

The four ministers were scheduled to meet again on Monday to further discuss ways to end the monthlong war.

The quadrilateral consultations come against the backdrop of an intensifying war that began last month, when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes by Tehran against Israeli and American targets, as well as energy and civilian infrastructure in Gulf countries.

The consequences have been immediate and far-reaching. Oil and cargo shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints — have faced severe disruption, while regional airspace has become increasingly volatile, forcing airlines to reroute flights and raising concerns about prolonged instability.

Islamabad has stepped into this volatile environment as an intermediary, quietly facilitating communication between Washington and Tehran even as both sides publicly deny formal negotiations.

While Tehran has refused to admit to holding official talks with Washington, Iran has passed a response to US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan to end the war via Islamabad, according to an anonymous source cited by the Iranian Tasnim press agency.

That role has elevated Pakistan’s diplomatic relevance at a time when traditional mediation channels appear constrained and mistrust between the main parties remains high.

Dar has been at the forefront of this effort. In recent days, he has held separate meetings in Islamabad with his Egyptian and Turkish counterparts, with discussions focused on the evolving regional situation, particularly developments related to Iran.

According to Pakistan’s foreign office, all sides emphasized the need for dialogue as the only viable path forward.

“The two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation and ongoing developments. DPM/FM emphasized the need for de-escalation, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path for lasting peace. He also underscored the importance of an end to all attacks and hostilities. DPM/FM said that Pakistan remains committed to supporting all efforts aimed at restoring regional peace and stability,” the foreign ministry said.

The diplomatic push has extended to direct outreach to Tehran. Dar spoke with Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, reiterating Pakistan’s call for restraint, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Sharif condemned Israeli strikes on Iran and briefed the Iranian leader on Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic initiatives, telegraphing his government’s willingness to play an active role in bridging divides.

At the same time, Pakistan has sought to demonstrate that even limited confidence-building measures can have tangible effects. One such development emerged over the weekend, when Iran agreed to facilitate additional maritime access for Pakistani vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Later on Sunday, PM Sharif’s office said that he shared with Prince Faisal bin Farhan Pakistan’s extensive diplomatic outreach during the current crisis, including the mediation efforts for deescalation and bringing both the US and Iran to the negotiating table.

“The prime minster appreciated the remarkable restraint exercised by Saudi Arabia amid the current crisis and assured the Saudi foreign minister that Pakistan would always stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.

“While emphasizing the Kingdom’s leadership role in the Muslim Ummah, the prime minister stressed upon the need to forge unity within the Islamic countries at this critical time.”

Earlier, Dar announced that Tehran would allow 20 more Pakistani-flagged ships to transit the strategic waterway, with two vessels expected to pass daily under the arrangement.

“This is a welcome and constructive gesture by Iran and deserves appreciation,” Dar said. “It is a harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region.”

He added that the move represented a meaningful step toward deescalation and could contribute to broader stabilization efforts at a time when disruptions to shipping lanes have heightened global economic concerns.

The Islamabad talks are therefore taking place at the intersection of high-stakes diplomacy and urgent economic realities. Any prolonged disruption to the Strait of Hormuz — through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes — risks triggering wider market instability and compounding geopolitical tensions.

For Pakistan, the stakes are both regional and domestic. As a country heavily reliant on energy imports and vulnerable to external shocks, Islamabad has strong incentives to push for a negotiated outcome that restores predictability to global markets.

Analysts say the current initiative reflects not only Pakistan’s strategic interests but also a broader trend of “middle power” diplomacy, in which regional actors seek to fill gaps left by larger powers.

Abdul Basit, Pakistan’s former high commissioner to India and ex-ambassador to Germany, described the consultations as a turning point.

“This is a crucial meeting between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye to discuss regional developments,” he told Arab News.

He suggested that a coordinated approach by these countries could help create conditions conducive to negotiations.

“If successful, the talks could force the warring sides to come to the negotiating table and contribute to lasting peace in the region,” he said.

Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst, offered a similar assessment, emphasizing Pakistan’s evolving diplomatic posture.

“It’s also a reflection of the middle power agency, with a range of key regional players coordinating on a strategy to increase the chances of a formal US-Iran mediation taking shape,” he said.

For Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye, participation in the Islamabad talks reflects a shared concern about the spillover effects of the conflict, particularly its impact on regional security, energy infrastructure and economic stability.

Each country brings distinct leverage and relationships to the table, raising the possibility that a coordinated diplomatic push could succeed where unilateral efforts have struggled.

Yet the challenges remain formidable. Public rhetoric from the main parties has hardened, and the pace of military developments continues to outstrip diplomatic initiatives.

Even so, the consultations in Islamabad on Sunday represent one of the most structured attempts so far to bring together influential regional actors in pursuit of de-escalation.
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