Pakistan Pushes US and Iran Toward Talks Amid Renewed Strikes, UN Envoy Says

Pakistan is actively pressing Iran and the US to return to negotiations under an agreement brokered by Islamabad, despite renewed strikes and a failure to implement the deal, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN told The National.

The comments come as tensions between Iran and the US have again intensified, with renewed attacks following a period of relative calm and continued tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan has increasingly positioned itself as an intermediary in the conflict, working alongside countries in the region including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, China and Qatar.

“There is this lingering lack of trust on both sides,” Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said when asked why the agreement had not been implemented. “There is also a slight lack of willingness to go ahead with implementation of this MoU, but we are persisting.” Mr Ahmad said that despite setbacks, Pakistan remains engaged with Washington and Tehran at senior levels.

Pakistan is serving the final year of a two-year term as an elected member of the UN Security Council, giving it a seat on the body responsible for maintaining international peace and security as it seeks to mediate some of the conflicts on the Security Council's agenda. The ambassador said Pakistan had maintained direct channels with both governments despite the renewed attacks.

“We have open lines of communication with both parties, with both Iran and the US, and at high levels,” he said. “We believe that the best way to resolve the situation and to conclude a comprehensive and conclusive deal is to return to the negotiations table, and for that we have a framework in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Everything is there. They need to return … and I hope that they will realise this soon.”

Asked whether Iran or the US was more reluctant to resume negotiations, Mr Ahmad declined to single out either side. “It’s not as simple as that, to say who is more responsible or who is not keen or willing to return to the negotiations,” he said. He pointed to Pakistan’s previous mediation efforts as evidence that diplomacy remains possible.

“If we were able to pull this off, if we were able to get a ceasefire announced in April, in the midst of heavy fighting and an continuing escalation, and then we were able to bring them together, and then we, you know, led the two parties to this memorandum of understanding, there is no reason that we cannot again bring them back to the table.”

Mr Ahmad said Pakistan remained convinced that renewed negotiations offer the only sustainable path out of the confrontation. “They need to realise, and I believe and I hope that they will realise this soon.”

Turning to Gaza, Mr Ahmad warned that Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank are threatening the prospect of an eventual Palestinian state, and said the international community must take a stronger stand. “The Gaza plan is not being implemented in full. To begin with, the first point was a ceasefire, and the ceasefire is not being respected,” he said.

Mr Ahmad said developments in the West Bank, including settlement expansion and settler violence, were further eroding prospects for a two-state solution. He said the UN and its member states should respond more forcefully to ensure Palestinian aspirations for freedom and self-determination are respected in accordance with international law.

On reform of the Security Council, Mr Ahmad acknowledged concerns over its continuing inability to act on major conflicts, pointing to the veto power wielded by permanent members like Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. Pakistan opposes expanding permanent seats and instead favors increasing elected, non-permanent members.

Addressing the race to succeed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Mr Ahmad noted the possibility of the UN being led by a woman for the first time, though he emphasized that qualifications remain the primary criterion. Minutes after the interview concluded, Mr Ahmad learned of his appointment as Pakistan’s next foreign secretary, succeeding Amna Baloch.