Pakistan brought together regional powers on Sunday for urgent talks aimed at easing tensions in the Iran war, with early discussions centered on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.
The meetings in Islamabad included officials from Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, as countries scramble to stabilize energy flows after weeks of fighting disrupted one of the world’s most critical maritime routes.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the group focused on ending the conflict and reviewed potential diplomatic pathways, including possible talks between the United States and Iran.
At the same time, several proposals tied to restoring shipping through the Strait have already been shared with Washington, according to a report from Reuters. The waterway previously handled about 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments but has largely been shut down following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran last month.
Some proposals include creating a joint management structure involving Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to oversee oil transit through the strait. One Pakistani source who spoke to the outlet indicated Islamabad has not formally been asked to join such a consortium and does not plan to participate.
Other suggestions include implementing a fee system similar to the Suez Canal to regulate shipping traffic. Details remain under discussion, and officials from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United States have not publicly commented.
Dar said foreign ministers at the meeting discussed “possible ways to bring an early and permanent end to the war in the region,” and noted they had been briefed on potential US-Iran negotiations taking place in Islamabad.
Separately, Dar said Iran had agreed to allow 20 additional Pakistani-flagged vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling limited movement despite broader restrictions. A Turkish diplomatic source told the outlet said Ankara’s priority remains reaching a ceasefire, adding: “Ensuring the safe passage of ships could serve as an important confidence-building measure in this regard.”
The talks come as Iran has warned the United States against launching a ground offensive.
The meetings in Islamabad included officials from Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, as countries scramble to stabilize energy flows after weeks of fighting disrupted one of the world’s most critical maritime routes.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the group focused on ending the conflict and reviewed potential diplomatic pathways, including possible talks between the United States and Iran.
At the same time, several proposals tied to restoring shipping through the Strait have already been shared with Washington, according to a report from Reuters. The waterway previously handled about 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments but has largely been shut down following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran last month.
Some proposals include creating a joint management structure involving Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to oversee oil transit through the strait. One Pakistani source who spoke to the outlet indicated Islamabad has not formally been asked to join such a consortium and does not plan to participate.
Other suggestions include implementing a fee system similar to the Suez Canal to regulate shipping traffic. Details remain under discussion, and officials from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United States have not publicly commented.
Dar said foreign ministers at the meeting discussed “possible ways to bring an early and permanent end to the war in the region,” and noted they had been briefed on potential US-Iran negotiations taking place in Islamabad.
Separately, Dar said Iran had agreed to allow 20 additional Pakistani-flagged vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling limited movement despite broader restrictions. A Turkish diplomatic source told the outlet said Ankara’s priority remains reaching a ceasefire, adding: “Ensuring the safe passage of ships could serve as an important confidence-building measure in this regard.”
The talks come as Iran has warned the United States against launching a ground offensive.
