Tehran [Iran], March 27: Pakistan's foreign minister confirmed on Thursday that his country is relaying messages between United States and Iran to de-escalate tensions and seek an end to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
"There has been unnecessary speculation in the media regarding peace talks to end ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In reality, US-Iran indirect talks are taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan," Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a statement posted on X.
"In this context, the United States has shared 15 points, being deliberated upon by Iran," Dar said, referring to a 15-point proposal widely reported on by US media earlier this week.
He said that Turkiye and Egypt were also part of the mediation efforts.
Iran has officially denied being engaged in talks with the US on an end to the war, as repeatedly claimed by US President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday evening, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview on state television that there "have been no negotiations or talks with the American side." He confirmed that the US had conveyed messages to Tehran via intermediaries, to which Iran had responded by relaying its own position or issuing warnings.
"This is neither negotiation nor dialogue. It is merely an exchange of messages," Araghchi stressed.
Meanwhile, Trump on Thursday continued to insist that Iran was ready to end the hostilities.
"They are 'begging' us to a make a deal, [...] and yet they publicly state that they are only 'looking at our proposal'," he wrote on his Truth Social platform, describing the Iranian claims as "WRONG." Pakistani sources confirmed to DPA that Islamabad had convinced the US to pressure Israel not to target Araghchi and Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf because they would be likely candidates to spearhead potential peace talks.
Source: Qatar Tribune
