Pakistan and Iran Hold High-Level Talks on Regional De-escalation and Houthi Attacks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir have met to discuss reviving diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating ongoing conflicts in the region, which includes a potential resumption of US-Iran negotiations. According to sources speaking to Reuters, the discussions centered on the US-Iran war, pathways back to negotiations, and recent Houthi attacks directed at Saudi Arabia.

These high-level talks followed a warning delivered by Pakistan to Tehran, urging restraint regarding the Iran-backed Houthis as the Yemeni group escalated its assaults on Saudi Arabia. Pakistan shares a defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, under which an act of aggression against one nation is treated as an attack on all three. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that while Islamabad favors a diplomatic resolution, he cautioned that any unprovoked aggression or conflict spillover into Saudi Arabia would activate the agreement.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its strong stance on Thursday, reiterating condemnation of the reprehensible Houthi attacks and pledging unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, an Iranian official acknowledged receiving the message from Pakistan via Tehran, though maintaining that Iran does not exert control over the Houthis. Conversely, two Iranian sources indicated to Reuters that Tehran had directed the Houthis to target Saudi Arabia last week, offering the group promises of additional weaponry and funding.

Amid these diplomatic and security developments, Islamabad continues its push for the United States and Iran to restart negotiations, following the breakdown of a memorandum of understanding brokered earlier this year by Pakistan and Qatar. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, highlighted the ongoing challenges, noting a lingering lack of trust and willingness from both sides to implement the agreement.

Additional regional friction has emerged as reports indicate several Gulf foreign ministers are planning to meet Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Salalah, Oman. Concurrently, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that its naval forces struck a US unmanned Saildrone-type vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre also reported receiving information about projectiles striking two vessels near the coast of Oman, contributing to a climate of heightened maritime tension. Further compounding these security concerns, The Wall Street Journal reported that Tehran has resumed the production of ballistic missiles, assembling them at underground facilities across Iran using stockpiled parts.