Reuters: Islamabad urges Tehran to enter talks without preconditions

Efforts to restart negotiations between the US and Iran are ongoing, as Islamabad presses Tehran to enter talks without preconditions, two Pakistani sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters on April 7.

One source, a senior security official, warned that Iran’s overnight strikes on Saudi industrial sites linked to American companies could derail talks. If Saudi Arabia responds militarily, the negotiations could collapse, the source said, adding that retaliatory actions might draw Pakistan—bound to Riyadh by a defence pact—into the conflict.

A second source noted that Iran is “walking on thin ice” and that the next three to four hours will be critical for the continuation of dialogue.

In recent weeks, Pakistan has played a central role as the primary mediator between the US and Iran, facilitating proposals from both sides, though no compromise has been reached. 

“We are ​in touch with Iranians. They have lately shown flexibility that they could join the talks, but they ​are at the same time taking hard lines as a prerequisite for any negotiations,” a Pakistani security official said. 

He added that Islamabad is urging Tehran to begin discussions without preconditions.

On April 6, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the sides continue to exchange messages through intermediaries. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran rejected a proposal for a temporary ceasefire communicated via mediators, stating that long-term peace talks could only begin once the US and Israel halt strikes, provide guarantees against their resumption, and offer compensation for damages.

The strike on Saudi Arabia complicates Pakistan’s mediation, as Islamabad is tied to Riyadh through a mutual defence pact obligating both countries to protect each other in case of an attack. Islamabad seeks to avoid being drawn into a war that could destabilise its western border with Iran and provoke unrest among its large Shiite population, the world’s second largest after Iran.

By Jeyhun Aghazada