The Pakistani government's efforts to mediate a cease-fire in the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran are “on the right track”, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad told The Associated Press on Saturday, as quoted by CBS News.
Two regional officials told PBS that officials from Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt are working to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table in Islamabad. They said mediators were working on a compromise to bridge the gap between the two sides' demands to stop the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposed compromise includes a cessation of hostilities to allow for a diplomatic solution, according to a regional official involved in the effort and a Gulf diplomat briefed on the matter.
Iran claims it 'never refused to go to Islamabad'
Also on Saturday, Iran's foreign minister said the government in Tehran “never refused to go to Islamabad” for talks, but wanted a “conclusive and lasting” solution to stop the “illegal war” that the United States and Israel launched on February 28.
His Pakistani counterpart welcomed the statement.
“I really appreciate your clarification my dear brother Araghchi,” said Minister Ishaq Dar.
However, The New York Times reported that, according to the assessment made by several US intelligence services, Iran is currently unwilling to engage in substantial negotiations to end the war because it has a deep distrust of the United States and Israel, which attacked the country twice last summer and on February 28, 2026, while talks on Iran's nuclear program were ongoing.
Trump, on the ultimatum given to Iran: “All hell will break loose on them”
The American president had threatened Iran with bombing its energy infrastructure, and on Saturday he declared that the deadline, which he has postponed twice, expires on Monday.
“Remember when we gave Iran 10 days to make a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz. Time is running out – 48 hours before all hell breaks loose on them. Thank God!” Trump wrote Saturday in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
