No date set for US-Iran talks as Pakistan, Qatar intensify mediation

No date or venue has yet been finalized for the resumption of direct talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending months of hostilities, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu.

"There is no meeting (between US and Iranian negotiators) scheduled in Islamabad, at least in the next 24 hours," a senior Pakistani official said, responding to US President Donald Trump's remarks that a new round of negotiations with Tehran would begin on August 3 afternoon after he decided to postpone military action against the Islamic Republic.

According to the sources, Pakistani and Qatari mediators remain in contact with both Washington and Tehran in an effort to finalize the timing and location of renewed negotiations. Islamabad and Doha are among the potential venues under consideration.

The report comes as Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that Tehran was not currently engaged in negotiations with the United States.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is expected to travel to Tehran "in a day or two" to discuss efforts to revive the negotiating process, the sources said. Naqvi's office did not immediately respond to Anadolu's request for comment.

The officials said "positive developments" regarding the resumption of talks were expected later this week, with both sides continuing to exchange messages through mediators in an attempt to restart direct negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Washington and Tehran signed the memorandum on June 17, committing to pursue negotiations on a long-term settlement of several contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear programme, within 60 days. However, the outbreak of hostilities last month has clouded prospects for implementing the agreement.

According to the sources, the United States and Iran are expected to begin with indirect negotiations through mediators in order to reach a "minimum understanding" before returning to face-to-face talks.

They added that Iran's nuclear program would not be included in the initial phase of direct negotiations.

"The prime focus will be on consolidating the latest pause in the hostilities and returning to the pre-July 9 position," one source said, referring to a joint de-escalation framework prepared by Pakistan and Qatar in consultation with regional partners.

Under the reported proposal, Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies passed before the conflict—while Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports. No transit fees would be imposed on vessels using the strategic waterway until a final agreement is reached, the sources said.

The implementation of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon is also expected to feature prominently on the agenda of the proposed talks, according to the officials.

By Vafa Guliyeva