Pakistan-led efforts for US-Iran ceasefire reportedly hit dead end

Efforts by regional countries, led by Pakistan, to broker a ceasefire between the United States and Iran have reached a dead end, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing mediators.

Iran has told mediators it is unwilling to meet US officials in Islamabad in the coming days and considers Washington’s demands unacceptable, the report said.

Turkey and Egypt are continuing efforts to find a way forward and are considering alternative venues for talks, including Doha and Istanbul, along with new proposals to break the deadlock.

Citing officials familiar with the matter and mediators, the Journal also reported that Qatar is resisting efforts by the United States and other regional countries to take on a leading mediation role in potential ceasefire talks with Iran, complicating efforts to move negotiations forward.

The Gulf state – which has been repeatedly targeted by Iran since the war began on February 28 – told US officials last week it was not keen on playing a central role in the mediation or lead the effort, the report said.

US President Donald Trump said earlier this week on social media that Iran had requested a ceasefire, a claim Tehran denied.

At the outset of the latest diplomatic push, Iran said it would only agree to end the war if the United States paid reparations, withdrew from its Middle East bases, and provided guarantees against future attacks, among other demands.