Pakistan hopes to host next round of Iran-US talks 'very soon', says PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said Pakistan was hopeful of hosting the next round of talks between Iran and the United States in the near future, while also praising US President Donald Trump’s efforts aimed at advancing peace in the region.

In a post on X, the prime minister congratulated Trump on what he described as his extraordinary efforts for peace and said the US president had held a very useful and productive telephone conversation with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Pakistan.

Shehbaz said Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir represented Pakistan in the call and added that he appreciated his role during the process.

The statement came after what the premier described as a “very useful and productive” call involving US President Donald Trump and several regional leaders, including officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE and Pakistan.

According to Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s participation in the diplomatic process was represented by Asim Munir, whom he praised for playing a key role in ongoing mediation efforts.

Trump later claimed on social media that an agreement between the United States, Iran and regional countries had been “largely negotiated,” although final details were still under discussion.

He also suggested that the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz would be reopened under the understanding — a claim later disputed by Iranian media outlets, which insisted Tehran would retain control over the waterway.

The developments come amid weeks of heightened regional tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year, followed by retaliatory attacks and disruptions around Gulf shipping routes.

Pakistan has increasingly positioned itself as a behind-the-scenes mediator during the crisis, reportedly helping broker ceasefire efforts and facilitating direct communication channels between Washington and Tehran.

According to Pakistan’s military media wing, recent meetings between Field Marshal Asim Munir and Iran’s top political and military leadership in Tehran were held in a “positive and constructive” environment and contributed to progress toward a possible understanding.

The flurry of diplomacy has now placed Pakistan in an unusually prominent geopolitical role, with Islamabad emerging as a possible venue for one of the region’s most sensitive negotiations in years.

While no formal agreement has yet been announced, the rapid pace of backchannel diplomacy has fueled speculation that a major breakthrough could be closer than previously expected.