Pakistan says US-Iran talks still alive despite fresh wave of US strikes

Lead

Pakistan said on Thursday that negotiations between the United States and Iran were still ongoing, even as Washington carried out a heavy wave of strikes on Iran in retaliation for fresh attacks targeting Jordan. The statement came from Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi, who told reporters that "negotiations between parties are ongoing, particularly on the Strait of Hormuz and to de-escalate."

Coverage comparison

Two news organisations, France 24 and The Hindu, both reported Pakistan's insistence that talks were continuing despite the latest escalation. France 24's report highlighted the heavy wave of strikes and the expanding scope of the conflict, noting that Saudi Arabia had joined the US in striking militant groups in Iraq, Egypt had come under fire for the first time with a drone attack at a Mediterranean port, Jordan had reported intercepting Iranian missiles for a second day, and Kuwait said an Iranian strike on a building belonging to a Chinese company had killed one person.

The Hindu's report provided additional context, noting that Pakistan was trying to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last month. The report also traced the conflict's origins to US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, and detailed Iran's attack on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz on July 7, which prompted US retaliation.

Both reports agreed on the core fact of ongoing negotiations amid continued hostilities, and both quoted Andrabi's remarks about the need for de-escalation and the return to technical talks.

Key claims

• Pakistan is "doing its utmost" to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table under the Islamabad MoU, according to the foreign office spokesperson.
• The Islamabad MoU was signed last month, as reported by The Hindu.
• The US and Iran have been engaged in a conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, according to The Hindu.
• Iran attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz on July 7, and the US carried out strikes on Iranian military targets in retaliation, as reported by The Hindu.
• The conflict has widened to include Yemen's Houthi rebels imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, with Saudi Arabia establishing a maritime defence alliance of 14 regional countries, according to France 24 and The Hindu.
• Explosions were reported at a natural gas loading port in Egypt, and a US-owned floating storage tanker was targeted by a drone, according to The Hindu.
• Jordan reported intercepting Iranian missiles for a second day running, and Kuwait said an Iranian strike on a building belonging to a Chinese company killed one person, as reported by France 24.
• Saudi Arabia joined the US in striking militant groups in Iraq, and Egypt came under fire for the first time with a drone attack at a Mediterranean port, according to both outlets.

Perspectives

• Pakistan (mediator): Foreign office spokesman Tahir Andrabi emphasized that "dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable path forward," urging Washington and Tehran to exercise maximum restraint and honour their commitment to resume technical-level talks. Pakistan said it was "doing its utmost" to revive negotiations and resolve outstanding issues under the Islamabad MoU and the Pakistan-Qatar joint statement of June 22.
• United States: While not directly quoted in the provided material, the US actions, including the "heavy wave of strikes" on Iran and retaliation for attacks on Jordan, are described by both France 24 and The Hindu.
• Iran: Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that two oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz with US support turned back after one caught fire, as reported by France 24. Iran's role as the target of US strikes and its attacks on shipping are detailed across the reports.
• Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia said it had set up a maritime defence alliance of 14 regional countries to secure navigation around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and joined US strikes in Iraq, according to both outlets.
• Egypt: Egypt's president warned that the conflict in West Asia is facing a serious escalation, after the first drone attack on a Mediterranean port, as reported by France 24 and The Hindu.