Iran Engages Pakistan to Defuse Tensions
Iran engages Pakistan in a fresh round of regional diplomacy, with Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi telephoning Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday as Tehran stepped up contacts with Qatar, Oman and Kuwait to ease tensions in the Middle East.
The Express Tribune reported that Araghchi and Dar exchanged views on recent regional developments, with Dar stressing the need for sustained dialogue and diplomacy to settle outstanding issues.
Dar urged all parties to remain constructively engaged in efforts to secure lasting regional peace and stability. “Active and sustained diplomatic efforts remain essential to achieving lasting peace, security and stability in the region,” the Foreign Office quoted him as saying.
Calls across the region
Araghchi held separate telephone calls with his counterparts in Qatar, Oman and Kuwait on Thursday. In Doha, he spoke with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The two reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation, alongside diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.
The Qatari premier reaffirmed Doha’s support for diplomatic initiatives aimed at ensuring freedom of maritime navigation and paving the way for a comprehensive agreement that could deliver sustainable peace in the region.
Araghchi also spoke with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, received a telephone call from Araghchi on Thursday, his ministry said. Their discussion focused on regional developments and diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and strengthen regional security and stability.
Other reports said Araghchi also spoke to his Saudi counterpart on Thursday. He had called Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdel-Ati, a day earlier.
Earlier on Thursday, Dar also spoke with Oman’s foreign minister, calling for diplomatic engagement to address the regional crisis.
Iran engages Pakistan: why it matters
The calls came on the same day the United Nations Security Council adopted a Pakistan-initiated statement on the role of diplomacy during active hostilities. The Council adopted the statement by consensus on Thursday, building on a resolution from Pakistan’s presidency of the Council in July 2025.
Pakistan has been one of the few channels still open between the parties, with Tehran and Washington keeping up indirect contact through regional mediators, including Pakistan and Qatar. The contacts come as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran enters its eighth month, disrupting regional security and unsettling energy markets. Oil prices have fallen for four straight days even as the risk of a wider war hangs over the region.
The outreach fits a wider pattern of Pakistani diplomacy in recent weeks, which has included a defence pact with Turkiye and the Security Council initiative. The contacts also come at a moment of uncertainty over Washington’s next steps after the US midterm elections.
Dar also met Britain’s Minister of State for Security, Dan Jarvis, in Islamabad on Thursday. The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in security, law enforcement, migration, trade and investment, and discussed regional and international developments.
Neither side has announced a next step in the Iran contacts. The round of calls shows Tehran is talking to every regional capital with a stake in the outcome, and Islamabad is now part of that circuit.
Frequently asked questions
Who did Iran’s foreign minister call on Thursday?
Araghchi spoke with Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar and his counterparts in Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, and had called Egypt’s foreign minister a day earlier.
What did Ishaq Dar say in the call?
Dar stressed sustained dialogue and diplomacy, urging all parties to remain constructively engaged for lasting regional peace and stability.
Why does the timing matter?
The calls came the same day the UN Security Council adopted a Pakistan-initiated statement on diplomacy during active hostilities, and amid uncertainty over Washington’s next steps after the US midterm elections.
What is Pakistan’s role in the Iran talks?
Pakistan has acted as one of the mediators keeping indirect contact open between Iran and the United States, alongside Qatar.
Did Dar hold other meetings on Thursday?
Yes. He met Britain’s security minister Dan Jarvis in Islamabad and spoke separately with Oman’s foreign minister.
