Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt discuss ways to bring permanent end to Iran war

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt discussed “possible ways to bring an early and permanent end to the war” in the Middle East during talks in Islamabad on Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said.

The foreign ministers of the four countries met in the Pakistani capital as part of efforts to de-escalate the conflict between the United States and Iran, with Islamabad acting as an intermediary between the two sides.

In a recorded statement, Dar said all participants expressed confidence in Pakistan’s role as a facilitator, adding that China “fully supports” the initiative to host potential US-Iran talks in Islamabad.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the meeting, held at Dar’s invitation, focused on reviewing the evolving regional situation and discussing issues of mutual interest.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan arrived in Islamabad on Saturday, while Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived on Sunday. Dar also held separate bilateral meetings with each of his counterparts.

Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran as the conflict continues, relaying messages between the two sides. Islamabad maintains longstanding ties with Iran as well as close relations with Gulf states and the United States.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday he held a more than hour-long phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he outlined Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic outreach. Pezeshkian thanked Islamabad for its mediation efforts to help halt the conflict.

Tehran has publicly denied holding direct talks with Washington, but has conveyed a response to US President Donald Trump’s 15-point proposal through intermediaries, according to a source cited by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

Separately, Dar said Iran had allowed 20 additional Pakistani-flagged vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a confidence-building measure.

“Dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward,” Dar said in a post on X.