Pakistan says US‑Iran mediation still moving despite envoy delay

Washington: Pakistan’s leaders sought on Sunday to revive peace talks between the United States and Iran after President Donald Trump cancelled plans for his top envoys to travel to Islamabad this weekend for negotiations. Pakistan‑led mediators are working to bridge significant gaps between Washington and Tehran, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter. Iran is insisting that the United States end its blockade on Iranian ports before launching a new round of talks with the Trump administration, the official said. Trump said he told his top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, not to travel to Pakistan for the planned negotiations. “If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!” Trump wrote on social media. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call on Saturday night that the United States “should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade,” to allow new negotiations to resume, according to Iran’s ISNA and Tasnim news agencies. In Pakistan, political analysts said indirect US‑Iran talks remain on track despite the delay. “The pause in the second round of Islamabad talks must not be seen as a setback to peace efforts,” said analyst Syed Mohammad Ali, who noted that easing tensions between Washington and Tehran will require patience. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to return to Islamabad on Sunday evening after a short visit to Oman. He had already held talks with Pakistani leaders on Saturday, presenting Iran’s position on ending the regional conflict. Pakistani officials said there are no immediate plans for US envoys to return. Security restrictions imposed in Islamabad ahead of the planned talks were eased on Sunday, with traffic gradually returning to normal and public spaces reopening. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the talks, Pakistani officials said mediation efforts between the United States and Iran remain active, with both sides still expressing an interest in ending the conflict.