Islamabad pushes forward mediation efforts in US-Iran standoff

Islamabad is continuing its efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington, Al Arabiya reports, citing a senior Pakistani official.

According to the official, consultations aimed at narrowing differences between the parties are still ongoing.

Against this backdrop, the current mediation push builds on a fragile and inconsistent diplomatic track shaped by both escalation and intermittent dialogue.

Talks between the United States and Iran collapsed in mid-April after failing to produce an agreement, with Washington simultaneously moving toward tighter pressure measures, including plans for a blockade targeting Iranian ports.

Despite this breakdown, a temporary ceasefire was later extended, creating limited diplomatic space, though repeated maritime incidents and ship seizures in the Strait of Hormuz have continued to undermine trust and stability.

More recently, Iran has attempted to shift the negotiating framework by proposing a phased approach that prioritises reopening the Strait of Hormuz and de-escalation, while postponing contentious nuclear discussions for a later stage.

At the same time, indirect contacts persist under growing pressure, with analysts noting that both sides are effectively balancing diplomacy with coercive leverage, leaving the process stalled but not entirely abandoned.

By Jeyhun Aghazada