Pakistan Hailed as ‘Incredible Mediator’ as US, Iran Eye Second Round of Islamabad Talks

The White House has publicly lauded Pakistan’s role in brokering talks between the United States and Iran, with officials signaling that a second round of negotiations to end the six-week war will likely take place in Islamabad again.

“The Pakistanis have been incredible mediators throughout this process,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday. “We really appreciate their friendship and their efforts to bring this deal to a close.”

Image credits: Press TV

The praise came as a Pakistani delegation led by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran. The visit follows Islamabad Talks last weekend that completed three rounds of face-to-face discussions.

‘Grand Bargain’ on the Table

Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. team in Islamabad, said Iran is being offered a “grand bargain” to end the conflict and resolve the decades-old standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program. Speaking before the latest diplomatic push, Vance described Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir as “exceptional hosts” who “showed real statesmanship.”

U.S. officials have indicated that a second round of Islamabad Talks is likely to be held in the Pakistani capital. “Those discussions are being had,” Ms. Leavitt said, adding that Washington feels “good about the prospects of a deal.”

The Zionist Occupying Regime, Lebanon, and the Strait

The diplomatic maneuvering comes as the Zionist Occupying Regime continues its separate campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, a key sticking point in the broader negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel and the U.S. share “identical” goals in Iran: removal of enriched material, elimination of enrichment capability, and full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The strategic waterway, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes, has been effectively shut by Iranian forces since the war began. Tehran has threatened to halt trade flows in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea if a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports continues.

Global Praise for Pakistan's Role as a Mediator in Islamabad Talks

Pakistan’s mediation efforts have drawn international recognition beyond Washington. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed gratitude to the Pakistani government for its peace efforts, while Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand conveyed similar appreciation in a call with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.

Speaking to U.S. media, President Trump said:

“I would go to Pakistan yes - Pakistan has been great. They've been so good! If the deal is signed in Islamabad I might go - the Field Marshal has been great - the Prime Minister has been great.”

Retired Indian Major General Yashpal Mor, in remarks carried by state-run Radio Pakistan, said Field Marshal Munir’s leadership and neutral stance earned the trust of both Washington and Tehran.

Chinese Consul General in Lahore Sun Yan also acknowledged Pakistan’s role as a “responsible mediator,” describing its efforts as supportive of global peace.