ISLAMABAD: A high-level Iranian delegation led by Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Monday for talks with mediator Pakistan’s top leadership, amid Islamabad’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the renewed tensions between the United States and Iran.
The Iranian delegation will undertake a two-day visit to Pakistan’s capital, according to Al Arabiya, citing informed sources.
🔴 Iran’s interior minister Eskandar Momeni will meet Pakistani leadership in Islamabad tomorrow, Al Arabiya reports citing sources
🔴 A high-level Iranian delegation will be in Islamabad tomorrow for a two-day visit, the sources say pic.twitter.com/7YoVsAHIHf
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 19, 2026
Iran’s ISNA news agency reported that Momeni will travel to Islamabad on Monday for meetings with senior Pakistani leaders as part of Pakistan’s mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington.
المیادین: اسکندر مومنی، وزیر کشور ایران، فردا دوشنبه طی سفری یکروزه در چارچوب میانجیگری اسلامآباد میان ایران و آمریکا به پاکستان سفر میکند و با مقامات بلندپایه این کشور دیدار و گفتوگو خواهد کردhttps://t.co/632yIpGbJo
— خبرگزاری ایسنا (@isna_farsi) July 19, 2026
The visit comes at a time of renewed tensions between the United States and Iran after Tehran announced it was suspending its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), accusing Washington of violating the agreement.
The Islamabad MoU, brokered by Pakistan, was signed in June to end hostilities between the two countries and pave the way for a lasting peace agreement to permanently end the conflict.
The Islamabad MoU was signed on June 18 by US President Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following Islamabad brokered a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Under the Islamabad MoU, the US and Iran committed to halt military operations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, and negotiate a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions, and a permanent ceasefire within 60 days.
US, Iran exchange fresh strikes
The US and Iran traded missiles and airstrikes on Sunday as Washington sought to “punish” Tehran for the US military’s first losses since open hostilities in the Middle East war resumed.
Iran said it targeted two US bases in Kuwait in response to more than a week of intensifying attacks, which Tehran says have hit transport and infrastructure sites, including an under-construction nuclear power plant.
Jordan also reported intercepting missiles, a day after the US military said two service members were killed there Friday as they “defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks”. US Central Command said another was still missing in action.
The US military said it carried out an eighth consecutive night of strikes against Iran to “swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members”, Central Command said.
Friday’s deaths brought to 16 the confirmed number of American military fatalities since the US and Israel launched the war with a wave of strikes on Iranian targets on February 28.
Jordan later said it had summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires to strongly protest the “continuation of brutal and unjustified Iranian acts of aggression targeting the Kingdom’s territory”.
Qatar, Jordan call for return to negotiations
Qatar and Jordan on Sunday called for an immediate end to hostilities between the US and Iran and urged a return to negotiations.
During a telephone conversation, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stressed the need for coordinated regional and international efforts to contain the crisis, according to Jordan’s state-run news agency.
الأردن يستدعي القائم بأعمال السفارة الإيرانية ويبلغه رسالة احتجاج شديدة اللهجةhttps://t.co/ayCiVRXmrT#بترا #الأردن pic.twitter.com/tQTn4QKeHv
— Jordan News Agency (@Petranews) July 19, 2026
The two ministers called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations to secure a comprehensive agreement.
They said any final agreement should address the root causes of the conflict and guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The two sides also reaffirmed their “full solidarity” in confronting Iranian attacks and warned of the “severe consequences” if the hostilities continued.
Turkiye backs diplomatic efforts
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also called for renewed diplomacy, urging Washington and Tehran to return to the Islamabad memorandum of understanding reached in June.
Speaking to Qatar TV during a visit to Doha, Fidan said Qatar was using all available diplomatic channels to help resolve the crisis while Turkiye remained in close coordination with the Gulf state.
“I am pleased to see that Qatar is once again trying to do everything it can to resolve this crisis by using all constructive methods and all available channels. Hopefully, we will receive good news in the coming days,” Fidan said.
He said the conflict had affected the regional economy and warned that the risk of wider confrontation could further undermine regional stability.
“Our wish is that an agreement between Iran and America will be reached again as soon as possible. As you know, with Pakistan’s mediation, Qatar’s intensive contributions and Turkiye’s support, a memorandum of understanding had been prepared. However, we have since moved away from that point. We need to return to it,” Fidan said.
Pakistan urges US, Iran to uphold Islamabad MoU
Pakistan on Saturday urged the United States and Iran to fully uphold their ceasefire commitments under the Islamabad MoU and avoid any actions that could further escalate regional tensions.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a telephone call today from his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. During the telephone conversation, the two Foreign Ministers discussed the latest developments in the region, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement.
Ishaq Dar underscored the urgent need for de-escalation and stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. He emphasised that maintaining regional peace and security must remain the foremost priority.
Deputy PM Dar also underlined the importance of upholding ceasefire commitments under the Islamabad MoU and avoiding any actions that could further escalate tensions.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 received a telephone call today from the Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait, H.E. Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
The two Foreign Ministers discussed the latest developments in the region.… pic.twitter.com/ZxRFsczOoQ
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 18, 2026
Islamabad MoU framework
Washington and Tehran have been testing the limits of escalation since Trump announced last week that the ceasefire agreement with Iran is over.
The US military’s Central Command said it concluded its latest round of attacks by hitting surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities.
The Islamabad MoU was signed on June 18 by US President Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after Pakistan brokered a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Under the Islamabad MoU, the US and Iran committed to halt military operations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and negotiate a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and a permanent ceasefire within 60 days.
Pakistan and Qatar subsequently co-mediated the first round of high-level negotiations in Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 21.
The talks were attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts
Pakistan is the principal mediator between the US and Iran after it secured a ceasefire on April 08 and hosted the highest level of talks between the two nations on April 12 and 13 in Islamabad.
Pakistan, which brokered the ceasefire and has continued to mediate between Washington and Tehran, has urged all parties to honour the agreement.
The first round of Pakistan and Qatar mediated US-Iran talks, led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, was held in Switzerland a week ago, and Washington waived sanctions on Tehran.
After the talks, Pakistan and Qatar announced significant progress in diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran following the conclusion of the first round of high-level talks in Switzerland.
