Iran-US Deadlock: Pakistan Pushes for Concrete Steps

The ongoing war in the region, the stalled negotiations between Iran and the United States, and the threats to the security of the Gulf countries have made it imperative for Pakistan to play a pivotal diplomatic role. The meeting of senior officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Iran in Tehran in the last week of October 2026 is a landmark development in this regard. This meeting made it clear that, rather than relying solely on military power or external guarantees to resolve regional disputes, direct communication among the countries of the region is also indispensable. However, it would be premature to consider this diplomatic development equivalent to the end of the war or a final agreement.
The importance of Pakistan’s diplomatic strategy is underscored by the fact that Islamabad has close Defense relations with Saudi Arabia, while it also shares a long border with Iran and has trade links and common interests related to regional security. Maintaining these different relationships simultaneously is a delicate and complex diplomatic responsibility. The real challenge for Pakistan’s political and military leadership is to continue Defense cooperation with its partners while also keeping the channels open between Tehran and Washington.
Earlier, the four-nation meeting held in Tehran on 26 October was attended by Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir; Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman; the head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization, Ibrahim Kalin; and Iranian officials. During meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the top security leadership, regional security, the effects of the war, the situation in Palestine and Lebanon, and future mutual cooperation were discussed. In the joint statement issued after the meeting, the four countries pledged to continue negotiations and cooperation for regional peace and security.
The arrival of the Saudi Defense Minister in Tehran carried added significance because relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran are under severe strain due to the recent war and Houthi attacks in Yemen. On 27 October, the Saudi-led coalition claimed that missiles and drones launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia had been shot down. These attacks have heightened the importance for Riyadh of both defensive protection and diplomatic contacts with Tehran.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement concluded between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye in August 2026 is a key development in the region’s evolving security environment. The agreement includes the concept of regarding an armed attack on any one member as an attack on all members and increasing Defense cooperation. Under it, areas such as military cooperation, joint Defense production, technology transfer, and the exchange of intelligence information are also under discussion.
On 28 October, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Parliament cleared the agreement and forwarded it to the full chamber of parliament for debate and voting. However, Turkish officials, describing the agreement as defensive in nature, have stressed that its purpose is not confrontation with any particular country but to bolster Defense capabilities and regional stability.
Cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye is not a substitute for negotiations with Iran; rather, it can evolve into a parallel Defense and diplomatic framework. For Tehran, it is important that its neighboring countries keep the door to direct communication open in their security arrangements instead of viewing Iran as a permanent adversary. Similarly, it is necessary for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to ensure that their Defense cooperation does not fuel tensions with Iran.
The thorniest issues in the ongoing war and negotiations between Iran and the United States are the Strait of Hormuz, the American blockade of Iranian ports, sanctions, and disagreements related to the nuclear program. In its recent proposals, Iran has tabled demands such as ending the American blockade to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and easing restrictions on oil sales. On the other hand, Washington insists that any comprehensive agreement also include issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, enrichment levels, and access for international inspectors.
The key takeaway from the latest situation today is that, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the fundamental differences between Iran and the United States remain unresolved. Iran’s position is that matters related to the war and the blockade should be settled first, while the United States does not appear willing to keep the nuclear issue separate from the core of the negotiations. US President Donald Trump had earlier rejected the Iranian proposal, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has expressed willingness to negotiate while also maintaining that Iran is prepared to respond in the event of new attacks. On 28 October, at the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan emphasized the Iranian nuclear issue and called on Tehran and Washington to fulfil their responsibilities under the Islamabad understanding reached in June and return to negotiations. The Pakistani representative also highlighted the need to avoid measures that could escalate tensions and to resolve the technical aspects of the nuclear dispute within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency. This position is a continuation of Pakistan’s efforts to maintain communication between the two sides.
Qatar’s role is equally pivotal in this diplomatic process. Qatar and Pakistan have facilitated communication and the transmission of messages between Iran and the United States, as well as contacts concerning ceasefire proposals. The new efforts by the Gulf countries are weighing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stopping Houthi attacks in Yemen, and arrangements for broader non-aggression in the region. However, the parties have failed to forge a consensus on these proposals.
The fallout from these tensions has also hit Pakistan’s economy. On 23 October, Reuters reported that the closure of border crossings between Pakistan and Iran had affected imports of Iranian LPG, and the price of a 12-kilogram cylinder in Baluchistan had surged from approximately Rs 4,500 to Rs 7,000. However, on 26 October, Pakistani media reported, citing importers, that LPG supplies had resumed through the Taftan and Gabd routes, raising hopes of a decline in prices. This makes it clear that the impact of border tensions is not limited to Defense matters but also affects energy supplies, local trade, and the expenses of ordinary consumers.
It must be understood that Pakistan’s real success will not simply be hosting a meeting or the number of diplomatic encounters, but rather its ability to translate these contacts into tangible results. Iran, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Qatar have different interests, but the risks of the war spreading, disruptions to energy supplies, and regional instability affect them all. The Tehran meeting has certainly opened a fresh avenue for negotiations, but further concrete steps are required for a ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, an end to tensions in Yemen, and progress on the nuclear dispute. Pakistan is pressing ahead with its efforts to achieve precisely such concrete steps.