According to business recorder, three Pakistani sources said preliminary talks took place this week during the visit of Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni to Islamabad. The trip marked his second visit to Pakistan in the past 10 days.

As official statements from Pakistan, Momeni who is widely regarded as being close to Iran s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) held meetings with Pakistan s civilian leadership and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir during his visit.

Major Obstacles Remain

Despite the renewed diplomatic push, sources cautioned that significant and complex obstacles continue to stand in the way of any potential negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Pakistan is increasingly finding itself at the center of a delicate diplomatic balancing act as it seeks to play the role of a future mediator.

Regional Tensions Complicate Mediation

The renewed efforts come amid rising regional tensions. This week, Yemen s Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia remains one of Pakistan s closest allies and signed a mutual defense agreement with Islamabad last year. Pakistan also relies heavily on Saudi financial support and has publicly condemned recent Houthi attacks.

Officials acknowledge that if Islamabad is perceived as being overly sympathetic to Iran s position, it could strain relations with Riyadh.

China s Economic Interests Drive Diplomatic Support

Pakistan also depends heavily on China, which has strong economic interests in restoring stability to key Middle Eastern trade routes.

Pakistani sources said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed the latest diplomatic initiative with Chinese officials during his recent visit to Beijing.

A Pakistani government official said China is increasingly concerned about the conflict because attacks on Gulf states and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz threaten Beijing s economic interests.

The official added that any disruption to shipping in the Red Sea would place additional pressure on another vital trade corridor heavily relied upon by China.

Neither Ishaq Dar nor Pakistan s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), responded to requests for comment.

China Backs Pakistan s Mediation

In a statement, China s Foreign Ministry said Beijing supports mediation efforts undertaken by Pakistan and other stakeholders.

The ministry added that China will continue playing an active role in promoting peace and stability across the Middle East and the Gulf region.

China remains Iran s largest trading partner and the biggest buyer of Iranian crude oil exports despite international sanctions. In recent years, Beijing has also expanded support for Iran s defense capabilities by supplying dual-use components, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and satellite navigation technologies. However, there have been no public reports of direct Chinese military assistance to Iran since the conflict began.

Previous Mediation Efforts

China has consistently supported Pakistan s diplomatic role. In March, Beijing dispatched its special envoy to several Middle Eastern countries as part of shuttle diplomacy aimed at reducing tensions.

Following mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June intended to create a 60-day window for negotiations toward a permanent agreement.

However, indirect talks failed to produce progress, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement, leading to renewed hostilities.

Meanwhile, the Houthis claimed on Thursday that they targeted two Saudi oil tankers as part of their maritime blockade, further threatening global energy supplies alongside the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

A Pakistani official said that ending attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states has become a key precondition for restarting negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

According to the official, Pakistan has already conveyed this position to Iran.