Pakistan has stepped up diplomatic efforts to bridge the widening gap between the United States and Iran, as negotiations aimed at ending the conflict continue to stall over key issues, including Iran’s uranium stockpile and control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian media reported that Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Syed Mohsin Naqvi, met Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Tehran on Friday for further talks on proposals designed to build a framework for a possible agreement. The discussions come just days after Naqvi delivered the latest US message to Iranian officials.
According to semi-official Iranian outlets Tasnim and ISNA, Pakistan is acting as a go-between, trying to keep communication lines open as both sides trade draft proposals but remain far apart on core demands.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week that there were “some good signs” in the talks, but warned that progress could collapse if Iran insists on maintaining control measures over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has opposed any form of toll or restriction on the waterway, which is one of the world’s most important oil routes.
Despite the cautious optimism, significant disagreements remain. Iranian sources told Reuters that while some gaps have narrowed, major sticking points still include uranium enrichment levels and the future of Hormuz access.
Markets have reacted to the uncertainty, with oil prices rising amid fears of prolonged disruption to global energy supplies. The US dollar also climbed to a six-week high as traders weighed the risks of escalation and continued instability in the region.
President Donald Trump maintained a hard line on Thursday, saying the US would eventually recover Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile. Washington believes the material could be used for weapons development, while Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful.
“We will get it. We don’t need it, we don’t want it,” Trump said. “We’ll probably destroy it after we get it, but we’re not going to let them have it.”
Trump also criticised Iran’s proposal to introduce charges for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it unacceptable and insisting the waterway must remain open to global trade.
Tehran has submitted its latest counterproposal in recent days, but reports suggest it largely mirrors earlier positions rejected by the US, including demands related to sanctions relief, frozen assets, and compensation for war damage.
With neither side willing to concede on key issues, Pakistan’s mediation effort has become one of the few active channels keeping dialogue alive — even as prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain.
