Pak Minister Naqvi meets top Iranian leaders to revive mediation efforts to end US-Iran conflict

Naqvi arrived in the Iranian capital on Tuesday for talks on bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest, according to Iran’s official news agency IRNA.

He was received at the airport by his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, and later held talks with Araghchi.

In his meeting with the Iranian president, Naqvi described the relationship between the neighbours as “strong, long-standing and unbreakable” and conveyed Islamabad’s “serious determination and will” to pursue the comprehensive development of ties with Tehran, according to a diplomatic source.

President Pezeshkian noted that Iran-Pakistan relations would serve the two countries’ national interests as well as contribute to regional stability and security, the source added.

According to the Dawn newspaper, the principal objective of Naqvi’s visit was to follow up on the stalled Memor­andum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June by the US and Iran, aimed at opening a 60-day window for high-level talks aimed at restoring peace.

But the talks collapsed after tensions between the two sides escalated again in mid-July.

Pakistan’s efforts to revive the talks have so far failed to yield results, especially after Oman took the lead as a mediator to address the key sticking point, Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global energy supplies.

Iran has said it is close to reaching a separate deal with Oman to manage the Strait, which runs between the two countries.

The Strait of Hormuz, which witnessed partial relief for a brief period after the signing of the MoU in June, now remains blocked following the collapse of the US-Iran negotiations, as Iran and Oman negotiate a new arrangement for safe passage through the strait.