Iran Accepts Pakistan as Mediator in US Peace Talks

Iran has agreed to accept Pakistan as a mediator in peace negotiations with the United States, following a series of diplomatic efforts by Islamabad to facilitate a ceasefire and reduce regional tensions in the Gulf.

Mohammad Boroujerdi, Iran’s Ambassador to Indonesia, confirmed the development on April 11, 2026. He stated that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has played an active role in attempting to ease conflicts in the Gulf region through intensive communication with multiple parties.

Pakistan’s Diplomatic Strategy

The mediation role emerged as a result of Pakistan’s dual-track approach to both Washington and Tehran. According to Boroujerdi, Prime Minister Sharif communicated directly with the Iranian government to encourage a halt in attacks and a return to negotiations.

Simultaneously, Islamabad approached the United States to persuade the U.S. Government to reopen dialogue with Tehran. Pakistan has further offered to host potential peace talks between the two nations to facilitate a resolution.

This willingness to act as a bridge was a decisive factor in Iran’s decision to accept Pakistan as a mediator, despite similar proposals from other figures and countries, including Indonesia.

High-Level Engagements and the 15-Point Plan

The diplomatic movement has been supported by high-level contacts. On April 11, 2026, U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance met with Prime Minister Sharif in Islamabad. This meeting is regarded as one of the most significant high-level contacts between the U.S. And Pakistan regarding Iran-related issues in recent years.

These developments follow earlier efforts in March 2026. Reports from The New York Times, citing officials briefed on the diplomacy, indicated that the United States sent a 15-point plan to Iran via Pakistan on March 24, 2026. The proposal aimed to resolve conflict in the Middle East and addressed several key areas:

• Steps to address Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
• Issues regarding maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
• A potential one-month ceasefire to discuss the details of the plan.
• The dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program and ending support for proxy groups.

While U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the U.S. Was making progress and that Iran was eager to make a deal, Tehran initially denied that direct talks had occurred. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, dismissed reports of such negotiations as fake news on March 24, 2026, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei also rejected U.S. Claims of negotiations.

Implementation of the Ceasefire

A two-week pause in fighting between Iran and U.S.-backed forces was announced in early April 2026. This ceasefire followed weeks of backchannel diplomacy where Islamabad relayed messages, proposals, and counteroffers between Tehran and the Trump administration.

Pakistan’s mediation involved both civilian and military leadership. Army Chief Asim Munir reportedly maintained direct contact with President Trump, while Prime Minister Sharif engaged with Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian.

To support these efforts, Pakistan collaborated with regional players, including Turkey and Egypt, to develop a phased approach that prioritized an immediate ceasefire before moving toward broader negotiations.

Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future. To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend…

Shehbaz Sharif, April 7, 2026

Follow-up talks are scheduled to take place in Islamabad as the two countries seek a sustainable end to hostilities.