Islamabad, February 3, 2026: Pakistan has been invited to participate in upcoming Iran-US talks aimed at easing tensions between Tehran and Washington, the Foreign Office confirmed on Tuesday.
Speaking to a private news channel, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said Pakistan’s invitation is part of broader backchannel diplomatic efforts involving multiple regional stakeholders. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to represent Pakistan at the negotiations scheduled to take place in Istanbul later this week.
Diplomatic sources indicated that Pakistan, along with Turkiye, has played a facilitating role in these behind-the-scenes engagements, which helped pave the way for the dialogue. Other countries invited to the talks at the foreign ministers’ level reportedly include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the exact format of the meetings remains unclear, the main session is set for Friday. Officials emphasized that the dialogue aims to prevent further escalation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Tuesday that he had instructed the Foreign Ministry to pursue nuclear talks with the United States, provided the negotiations occur in an environment free from threats and unreasonable expectations. “The talks will be held within the framework of our national interests,” he stated in a post on X.
The negotiations come amid heightened tensions in the region. Washington deployed an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East following anti-government protests in Iran last month. US President Donald Trump has expressed hope for a resolution but warned of “bad things” if no agreement is reached.
Iran, while emphasizing its willingness for diplomacy, has insisted that discussions remain limited to the nuclear issue, rejecting any talks on its missile program or defense capabilities. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CNN that a fair and equitable nuclear deal with the US is achievable, stating, “If the US negotiation team follows what President Trump said: to come to a fair and equitable deal to ensure that there is no nuclear weapon… I am confident that we can achieve a deal.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that a US attack could trigger a regional war. Regional officials told Reuters that the priority of the upcoming talks is to avoid conflict and de-escalate tensions between the two sides.
