ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday appreciated a clarification by his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi regarding Tehran’s position on potential talks with the United States in Islamabad to end the ongoing conflict.
Responding to Araghchi’s statement on X, Dar said: “Truly appreciate your clarification, my dear brother @Araghchi,” reaffirming Pakistan’s support for diplomatic engagement to de-escalate the conflict.
Pakistan on Saturday urged media platforms to exercise “due diligence” while reporting about potential Iran-US talks in Islamabad.
Pakistan has served as an intermediary between Iran and the US since the start of the conflict, which has disrupted global energy and shipping supplies and posed risks to regional economies.
Late week, Islamabad hosted foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt for discussions on ways to bring a permanent end to the ongoing war on Iran and Tehran’s attacks on the Gulf countries.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office, in a statement, said: “We have noted several reports in the media, including on social media, citing so-called official government sources regarding the ongoing conflict in the region and Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and dialogue.”
The statement added: “We categorically reject these false insinuations attributed to purported official sources as baseless and a figment of imagination. Any attribution to official sources in this regard is incorrect.
“It is a matter of concern that the briefing held on Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been misrepresented, with references to issues that were neither discussed nor alluded to,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office added.
The Foreign Office said that at a time of heightened regional sensitivity, diplomacy requires both discretion and responsibility.
“We therefore urge all media platforms to exercise due diligence, avoid speculation, and rely exclusively on officially issued statements and media readouts for accurate and timely information.”
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Statement by the Spokesperson pic.twitter.com/oDVMDQi3RN
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 3, 2026
Earlier this week, China and Pakistan laid out a five-point plan to end the Iran war.
The five-point plan calls for an end to attacks on civilians and non-military targets, such as energy infrastructure and desalination plants.
Shipping lanes should be secured, allowing “the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships” through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, it added.
Both countries said a lasting peace should be based on the U.N. charter and international law.
PR No.85/2026
Five-Point Initiative of China and Pakistan for Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East Region (Beijing, March 31,2026) pic.twitter.com/JAkSsro17a
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 31, 2026
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump claimed that “Iran’s New Regime President” was seeking a ceasefire, which he said would only happen once the Strait of Hormuz was “open, free, clear”.
It was not clear to whom Trump was referring in Iran, which still has the same president.
Trump said he could walk away from the war in two to three weeks once he felt confident Iran would not be able to build a nuclear weapon – even if Tehran does not agree to a ceasefire.
Today, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said Tehran’s stance had been misrepresented by US media, adding that Tehran had never refused to engage in talks in Islamabad and remained grateful for Pakistan’s facilitation efforts.
“We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad,” Araghchi stated.
He stressed that any negotiations must focus on achieving a conclusive and lasting end to what he described as an “illegal war imposed” on Iran.
