Pakistan's Foreign Minister Visits China Amid Mediation Efforts Between Iran and the US
Beijing (ANTARA) - Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss the conflict in the Middle East amid Islamabad’s efforts to mediate relations between the United States and Iran.
“Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar will arrive in China today. The meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will enhance strategic communication and coordination regarding the situation in Iran and other international and regional issues of common interest,” said Spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mao Ning during a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
It is known that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey are working to facilitate talks between the United States and Iran to end the conflict in the Middle East, with the possibility of Pakistan hosting the negotiations.
“China and Pakistan together call for peace and a just position, and are making new efforts to help end the conflict and achieve peace and stability in the region,” added Mao Ning.
However, Mao Ning did not mention details of the discussions between the two foreign ministers.
Previously, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the US and Iran have expressed confidence in Pakistan to facilitate potential dialogue between the two countries.
Dar emphasised that Islamabad is willing to hold and facilitate meaningful talks between the two parties in the coming days, for a comprehensive and sustainable resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey, said Ishaq Dar, have decided to form a committee consisting of four senior officials from each foreign ministry to formulate the technical implementation through mutual agreement and consensus.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday (30/3) that they have not engaged in direct negotiations with the US and that contacts are still limited to exchanging messages through intermediaries.
Baqaei also questioned the credibility of US claims regarding diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran.
“I don’t know how many people in the US take America’s diplomatic claims seriously. Our mission is clear, unlike the other side, which constantly changes its position,” he said.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister also stated that the meeting organised by his side was held “independently” and Iran did not participate in it.
“If countries in the region want to end the war, they must clearly understand who started it,” he said.
In fact, US President Donald Trump is pushing diplomatic efforts, with mediators including Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt involved in indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran.
Despite the escalation, he said indirect talks with Iran through “emissaries” from Pakistan are making progress, adding that an agreement could be reached quite quickly.
Trump stated that what he wants is to take over Iran’s oil like the US approach to Venezuela, where Washington intends to control the oil industry “without time limit” after forcibly capturing President Nicolas Maduro in January.
The Pentagon is reportedly deploying up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the region, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announcing on Saturday (28/3) that more than 3,500 troops, including 2,500 marines, have arrived in the Middle East.