Lead
Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi making two visits to Tehran in less than a week in an effort to prevent the fragile ceasefire from collapsing. The visits come as Washington and Tehran continue to exchange proposals while trading public warnings about the consequences of failure.
Coverage comparison
Reporting from Al Jazeera indicates that Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday for a two-day visit, meeting President Masoud Pezeshkian, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The outlet described the trip as part of Islamabad's efforts to keep ceasefire negotiations from falling apart. According to Al Jazeera, Naqvi's visit was the second in less than a week, with some reports suggesting the trip aimed to bring Iranian and US positions closer together.
Dawn's coverage notes that Naqvi traveled to Tehran for the second time in a week to break the deadlock in the talks. The Pakistani daily reported that the minister met with the Iranian president and speaker of parliament, and that the visit was framed officially around bilateral and border security cooperation while diplomatic sources linked it to the stalled peace process.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Naqvi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss proposals to end the US-Israeli war, with Tehran and Washington still at odds over Iran's uranium stockpile and controls on the Strait of Hormuz.
TASS, citing Pakistani sources, reported that the visit was aimed at reaching an agreement on a negotiating document, with the American side having requested answers on specific points.
Key claims
The temporary ceasefire, agreed last month, has slowed fighting but the underlying conflict remains unresolved, according to multiple reports. The United States and Iran have continued to exchange proposals for peace through Pakistani mediation, but both sides are believed to remain far apart on key issues.
US President Donald Trump has issued several public warnings. Al Jazeera reported that Trump told reporters peace negotiations with Iran are "borderline" between talks and renewed strikes, adding that "if we don't get the right answers, it goes very quickly." Trump also posted on Truth Social that "the clock is ticking" for Iran, saying they "better get moving, FAST." Dawn reported that Trump claimed talks were in the "final stages" and warned of renewed hostilities if a deal is not reached in a "limited timeframe." The Jerusalem Post quoted Trump as saying the US would eventually recover Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Iran, meanwhile, has warned that confrontation would "go beyond Middle East" if war resumes, as reported by Dawn. Iranian officials have also expressed distrust of the United States. Dawn reported that Foreign Minister Araghchi said Iran does not trust the US at all due to contradictory messages. According to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that despite Trump publicly calling Iran's response "totally unacceptable," Washington had sent "a set of revised points and considerations" through Pakistani mediators.
Iran has submitted proposals to the US, with Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post both reporting that Iran's proposal included demands for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Dawn's reporting noted that Iran submitted a revised proposal through Islamabad, which reportedly helped avert another escalation. Iran has also restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to multiple reports.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a central point of contention. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quoted by the Jerusalem Post as saying there could be no solution if Tehran enforced a tolling system in the strait, which it effectively closed to most shipping after the war began. About a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments traveled through the strait before the war, according to the same report.
Disputes over Iran's enriched uranium stockpile have also complicated the talks. Dawn reported that confusion surrounding Iran's position on the stockpile has been a point of tension, with Reuters reporting that Iran's supreme leader had instructed that the material remain inside Iran, challenging a core US demand. Senior Iranian officials later denied any "new order" had been issued, Dawn added.
Perspectives
Pakistan: Islamabad has positioned itself as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi's repeated visits to Tehran, along with contacts between Pakistan's prime minister and regional leaders, reflect its effort to keep negotiations alive. Pakistani officials have described the visits as part of shuttle diplomacy aimed at preventing the collapse of the peace process.
Iran: Tehran has signaled willingness to continue talks but has expressed deep distrust of the United States. Iranian officials have warned that another US attack could trigger a wider confrontation and have insisted on guarantees against future attacks. Iran has also submitted proposals that include demands for control of the Strait of Hormuz and has resisted transferring its enriched uranium abroad.
United States: Washington has publicly emphasized coercive leverage, with President Trump warning of renewed strikes if a deal is not reached quickly. US officials have reported "some good signs" in the talks but insisted on Iranian concessions on the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear issues.