Pakistan Hosts Four-Nation Diplomatic Talks to De-escalate Iran War

Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt convened in Islamabad for two days of diplomatic talks aimed at de-escalating the 30-day US-Israeli war on Iran that began February 28, 2026. The conflict has created the worst energy crisis since 1973 as Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies pass—has forced petroleum companies to declare force majeure and drastically reduced Gulf energy exports. Pakistan positions itself as a potential mediator, leveraging its 900-kilometer border with Iran, the world's second largest Shia population, and close ties with the US demonstrated by President Trump hosting Pakistani army chief Asim Munir twice. Tehran rejected Trump's 15-point ceasefire plan, demanding instead an end to aggression, reparations, and security guarantees, while Iran continues near-daily attacks on Gulf energy facilities and US military bases in the region.

Pakistan's Diplomatic Initiative to De-escalate the US-Israel-Iran War

• ▪Donald Trump described Pakistan army chief Asim Munir as his favourite field marshal
• ▪Tehran agreed to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz at a rate of two per day as a confidence-building measure
• ▪US President Donald Trump has hosted Pakistan army chief Asim Munir twice since Trump succeeded former US President Joe Biden

Iran's Closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Global Energy Crisis

• ▪Donald Trump sent a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran
• ▪Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the war on Iran on February 28, 2026
• ▪Tehran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has created the worst energy crisis since the 1973 oil embargo
• ▪The United States-Israeli war on Iran entered its 30th day as of March 29, 2026
• ▪Oman, the mediator of US-Iran nuclear talks, said the war was launched although a deal had been within reach
• ▪The US-Israeli war on Iran was launched while Washington was holding talks with Tehran on Iran's nuclear programme
• ▪US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day extension of his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Regional Security Concerns and the Push for an Islamic Alliance

• ▪Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels launched their first attacks on Israel on Saturday since the start of the US-Israel-Iran conflict

Perspective of Iran

• ▪Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has created the worst energy crisis since the 1973 oil embargo, giving Tehran significant strategic leverage
• ▪Tehran rejected Donald Trump's 15-point ceasefire plan and instead demanded the end of US-Israeli aggression, reparations for war damage, and security guarantees to prevent future attacks