Pakistan is exploring a path towards a resumption of stalled US-Iran talks over ending their nearly five-month-old war, three Pakistani sources said, following a push initiated by China. Exploratory discussions took place during a visit by Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni to Islamabad this week — his second within the last 10 days, the sources said. Momeni, who is considered close to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, met with government leaders and Field Marshal Asim Munir this week, according to Pakistani government statements.
All three sources cautioned that the obstacles to any talks with the US remain high. Strait of Hormuz closure hitting China Pakistan has found itself in an increasingly complicated situation as a potential future mediator. Earlier this week, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, a close ally of Islamabad that signed a mutual defence treaty with Pakistan last year.
Pakistan relies on Saudi financial support, and Islamabad has firmly condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Being seen as too receptive to Iranian arguments could risk frustrating Riyadh. But Islamabad is similarly dependent on Beijing, which has also been a key financial backer of Islamabad, and which has economic interests in finding a diplomatic solution to reopening key Middle Eastern trade routes.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the new Middle East effort with Chinese officials during his visit to China last week, all three Pakistani sources said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the issue publicly. It was a great pleasure to be received by H.E.
President Xi Jinping and the First Lady, together with 6 world leaders, ahead of the banquet dinner, hosted by H. the President prior to the signing ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) by… pic.twitter.com/wVozrP94Ax — Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) July 17, 2026 "The Chinese are unhappy because Iran's attacks on other Gulf states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are hitting their interests," a Pakistani government official said. Disruptions in the Red Sea would hit another key trade route Beijing relies on.
In a statement, China's foreign ministry said: "China supports the mediation efforts made by Pakistan and other parties." It added that China wi…
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