Pakistan to Host US‑Iran Negotiations as Iran Pushes 14‑Point Deal
Islamabad is set to become the venue for the next round of talks between the United States and Iran, the Pakistani ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, announced on May 11. The talks, scheduled for early June, will focus on Iran’s 14‑point proposal that aims to lift sanctions in exchange for limits on its nuclear programme. Iranian top lawmaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf hailed the proposal as the only viable path to a lasting agreement, warning that any alternative would "lead only to failure."
The development follows months of stalled diplomatic contact after the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord and re‑imposed sanctions. Islamabad’s involvement reflects Pakistan’s long‑standing policy of positioning itself as a neutral mediator in South‑Asian and Middle‑Eastern disputes, a role that has grown since the 2020 Afghan talks. The United States has reportedly welcomed a neutral venue to reduce regional pressures, while Iran sees a friendly neighbor as a guarantor of its security interests.
TASS reported the ambassador’s comments, emphasizing that both Washington and Tehran view Pakistan as "an honest mediator." By contrast, the Iranian parliamentary source, quoted by TASS, stressed that the 14‑point plan is the "only alternative" to a collapse of negotiations. Ghalibaf added that the proposal includes a step‑by‑step reduction of sanctions, a freeze on enrichment levels, and a verification mechanism overseen by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The United States has not yet disclosed its official stance on the specific points, but senior State Department officials have signaled willingness to discuss a phased lift of sanctions.
Analysts note that Islamabad’s hosting could shift regional dynamics, giving Pakistan a diplomatic boost but also exposing it to criticism from rival regional powers. "If the talks succeed, Pakistan will emerge as a key diplomatic conduit between the West and Tehran," said Dr. Ayesha Khan, a South‑Asia security expert at the Institute for Strategic Studies. "However, failure could damage Pakistan’s credibility and draw it into the geopolitical tug‑of‑war between the US and Iran."
The next steps hinge on the final agenda and the composition of the delegations. Both sides are expected to confirm their representatives by the end of May, and a joint statement outlining the framework is slated for release after the June session. Observers will watch for any shifts in US sanctions policy and Iran’s willingness to engage in verification procedures, which could determine whether the talks move beyond rhetoric to a concrete deal.