Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will visit Islamabad on Tuesday for his first overseas trip since the US-Israel war on Iran began, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry announced [1][4]. The one-day visit follows the conclusion of 18 hours of US-Iran talks in Switzerland, where mediators Pakistan and Qatar reported "encouraging progress" including a 60-day roadmap toward a final deal, a high-level oversight committee, technical working groups, a Strait of Hormuz communication channel, and a Lebanon de-confliction cell [5][6][8]. Le Monde reported that Pezeshkian's trip is intended to express gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Islamabad's mediation [21], while Dawn reported the agenda will also cover trade, energy, border security, and regional connectivity [4].
Pezeshkian is expected to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Sharif, and Army Chief Asim Munir, with calls by Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also scheduled [2][4]. Anonymous official sources told CGTN that the discussions will focus on next steps in the US-Iran peace process [2].
Pakistani and Western sources converge on the assessment that Islamabad's shuttle diplomacy was a decisive factor in bringing Washington and Tehran to the table. Sharif stated that "Pakistan will continue to play its honest and sincere role in advancing dialogue and diplomacy towards a peaceful and lasting resolution," paying special tribute to Asim Munir, "whose untiring efforts ensured success" [7]. US Vice President JD Vance praised Munir directly: "We would not have been here without his statesmanship and military leadership" [3]. Elizabeth Threlkeld, South Asia director at the Stimson Center, said "Pakistan's patient diplomacy was critical in getting the US-Iran deal across the finish line, though its long-term impact will depend on the agreement's durability as difficult negotiations continue" [3]. A senior diplomatic source in Islamabad told DW that "Pakistani officials helped identify areas of compromise, coordinated draft proposals, and worked to keep channels open during several moments when negotiations appeared close to collapse" [3]. Jornal do Brasil reported that, according to diplomats, Pakistan's mediation was decisive in reducing the immediate risk to global energy supply, with oil prices falling more than one percent after the provisional agreement [22].
Analysts and diplomatic sources, however, temper the narrative of Pakistan as sole architect. Farwa Aamer of the Asia Society Policy Institute said Pakistan "was not only able to effectively leverage its relations with Tehran and growing closeness to Washington but also its network of regional partners like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey" [3]. Michael Kugelman of the Atlantic Council noted that Pakistan "could not mediate alone" and required support from China and Gulf states [3]. Al Jazeera Arabic reported on a tripartite mediation effort involving Pakistan, Turkey, and Qatar [14], while The New Arab detailed Qatar's role in building trust and supporting Pakistani efforts toward a preliminary ceasefire [15]. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Beijing weeks earlier produced a joint resolution for peace and a formal Chinese endorsement of the Pakistan-led process [3].
The Iranian delegation offered a different emphasis on the substance of the Switzerland talks. Delegation spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the discussions focused on unresolved provisions of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, "particularly the cessation of war on all fronts including Lebanon and the release of Iran's frozen assets" [6]. Baghaei also stated that "a very brief discussion took place regarding the nuclear issue, but there was no discussion of details" [7]. Vance, by contrast, said Iran had agreed to readmit IAEA inspectors and to mechanisms for managing frozen assets and enforcing ceasefires, though he acknowledged no timeline existed: "Wir haben das Haus noch nicht gebaut, aber wir haben ein erfolgreiches Fundament geschaffen" (We haven't built the house yet, but we have created a successful foundation) [5]. The gap between the Iranian characterization of nuclear talks as barely begun and the US characterization of an agreement to readmit inspectors remains unresolved in the available reporting.
Israel's position stands apart from the broader de-escalation framework. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli troops should remain in southern Lebanon "so lange wie nötig" (as long as necessary), even as Israel announced the lifting of all war-related restrictions in its northern border areas [5]. Israeli analysis published by Ynet expressed concern that Pakistan — a nuclear-armed state with reported links to the IRGC — has an inherent conflict of interest in mediating between the US and Iran and may tilt outcomes in Tehran's favor [20].
The diplomatic dynamics have generated political fallout in India. The BBC reported that Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reportedly dismissed Pakistan's mediation as "dalali" (brokerage), reflecting discomfort over Pakistan's diplomatic visibility [9]. Deutsche Welle reported that Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Modi's foreign policy, arguing India is losing ground while Pakistan gains visibility as a peace broker [10].
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain to discuss the preliminary Iran accord with Gulf Arab allies, focusing on the memorandum of understanding, Strait of Hormuz transit, and regional peace [19]. CNBC reported that the Switzerland framework includes a plan to cease hostilities in Lebanon and the creation of a de-confliction cell involving the US, Iran, and Lebanon, alongside progress on oil relief and asset releases [23]. Mediators stated that the goal remains a final agreement within 60 days, with further technical-level consultations expected throughout the week [5][7]. Deputy Prime Minister Dar confirmed that a Pakistani Foreign Ministry team will remain engaged for those talks [7].