Islamabad is emerging as the unlikely venue for backchannel diplomacy between two longtime foes: Iran and the United States. With the Strait of Hormuz under blockade from both sides—Iran’s closure and America’s port restrictions—the stakes couldn’t be higher. Delegations from Tehran and Washington are set to engage through Pakistani facilitators, explicitly avoiding face-to-face encounters.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in Pakistan on Friday as part of broader consultations involving Oman and Russia. The US side, featuring President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, follows suit over the weekend. This comes after Iran balked at direct talks, scuttling last week’s second round.
Escalations paint a volatile picture. Iran seized vessels during its blockade, including a Dubai-India freighter, retaliating against US captures of its ships. Ceasefire buzz persists, but trust remains fragile.
Spokesman Ismail Baghaei quashed rumors of direct meetings on social media: ‘No plans for Iran-US meetings. Our observations go to Pakistan.’ This setup echoes Geneva’s failed Oman-mediated talks, where the same US duo met indirectly with Araghchi.
Key leaders are sitting this out. Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Ghalibaf, who spearheaded April 11’s opener, stay home. Leavitt from the White House signaled flexibility: ‘Vance is ready if we need him.’ She highlighted recent Iranian overtures as encouraging.
Araghchi framed his trip as partnership-building for regional stability. White House sources express cautious optimism, with top officials monitoring from afar. As indirect exchanges unfold, Pakistan’s role as neutral ground could prove pivotal in de-escalating a crisis threatening global energy flows.
