Iran has rejected Pakistan’s claim that Islamabad is hosting or facilitating direct talks between the United States and Tehran. The Iranian Consulate in Mumbai stated clearly that there have been no direct negotiations with Washington and only excessive demands passed through intermediaries. Pakistan had earlier announced that it was ready to host US-Iran peace talks after high-level meetings in Islamabad with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey. Islamabad also claimed both sides were confident in Pakistan’s mediation role.

Tensions in West Asia are hitting a critical point as Iran signals a conditional willingness to engage in talks with the United States, using Pakistan as a key diplomatic bridge. This comes in the wake of a deadly strike on Bandar Khamir port, which killed five people and triggered sharp accusations from Tehran against the US-Israel alliance. Sources indicate that Iran has laid down five non-negotiable conditions, including firm security guarantees against future strikes and an immediate halt to ongoing military operations. While the door to diplomacy is not fully open, it’s no longer shut either.