Pakistan is exploring a path towards a resumption of stalled US-Iran talks over ending their nearly five-month-old war, three Pakistani sources said, following a push initiated by China.
Exploratory discussions took place during a visit by Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni to Islamabad this week – his second within the last 10 days, the sources said.
Momeni, who is considered close to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, met with Pakistani government leaders and army chief Asim Munir this week, according to Pakistani government statements.
All three sources cautioned that the obstacles to any talks with the US remain high.
Pakistan has found itself in an increasingly complicated situation as a potential future mediator.
Earlier this week, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, a close ally of Islamabad that signed a mutual defence treaty with Pakistan last year.
On Thursday the Houthis said they struck two Saudi oil tankers as part of their naval blockade, threatening to create a second chokepoint for global oil supplies alongside the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan relies on Saudi financial support, and Islamabad has firmly condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
However, Islamabad is similarly dependent on Beijing, which has also been a key financial backer of Islamabad, and which has economic interests in finding a diplomatic solution to reopening key Middle Eastern trade routes.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the new Middle East effort with Chinese officials when he visited China last week, all three Pakistani sources said.
They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the issue publicly.
‘The Chinese are unhappy because Iran's attacks on other Gulf states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are hitting their interests,’ a Pakistani government official said.
Disruptions in the Red Sea would hit another key trade route Beijing relies on.
Dar and the Pakistani military's public relations wing did not respond to requests for comment.
In a statement, China's foreign ministry said that ‘China supports the mediation efforts made by Pakistan and other parties”.
It added that China will continue to ‘play an active role in restoring peace and tranquillity in the Middle East Gulf region as soon as possible”.
Beijing is Iran's largest trading partner and primary buyer of its exported crude oil despite international sanctions on Tehran, benefiting from a steep discount on the energy source.
A Houthi spokesman said yesterday that the rebels were not blocking traffic through the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
‘There is no closure of Bab al-Mandab as some are suggesting,’ said Mohammed Abdusalam, who is also a top Houthi negotiator, adding that the rebel position was ‘limited to a maritime blockade that only affects the Saudi side’.
The rebels warned in a radio message to ships on Monday that they would target ships ‘belonging to (the) Saudi enemy’ that do not comply with their blockade.
According to data analysed by AFP on Wednesday, nine ships made a U-turn after the rebels announced their naval blockade, though some have resumed course.
Despite the Houthi threats and course changes, traffic continues in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has been key to Saudi exports after passage through Hormuz became fraught.
After the Middle East war broke out, Saudi seaborne crude exports via the Bab el-Mandeb strait surged eightfold between March and mid-July 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to data from maritime tracker Kpler.
The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in June to move towards ending the war after mediation by Pakistan and Qatar.
It was intended to provide a 60-day window for negotiations on a permanent agreement.
However, indirect talks yielded no progress.
Both sides blamed each other for violations, and the conflict resumed.
The escalation has raised both the stakes and the hurdles for Pakistan's latest diplomatic efforts.
A halt in attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations would now be a ‘pre-requisite for any talks to resume,’ said a Pakistani official.
It's a message that Pakistan has conveyed to Iran, the official added.
