ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker to review ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at facilitating a second round of talks between the United States and Iran, according to an official statement.
The meeting focused on the evolving regional situation and the importance of sustained dialogue to maintain stability. Naqvi welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire, calling it a positive step toward de-escalation.
He said Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, is making “full efforts at every level” to help resolve the crisis through peaceful means. Naqvi expressed hope that both Washington and Tehran would give diplomacy a chance.
The US envoy acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and supporting efforts to ease tensions, as Islamabad continues to act as a key mediator between the two sides.
The diplomatic engagement comes amid reports that a second round of talks could be held in Islamabad within days. While no official confirmation has been issued, Trump has indicated that renewed negotiations remain possible following the extension of a two-week truce.
Despite the ceasefire, significant challenges remain. The US has maintained a naval blockade on Iranian maritime trade, which Tehran views as a violation of the truce. Iranian officials have also linked further negotiations to the lifting of these restrictions.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said a meaningful ceasefire would require an end to the blockade, adding that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely under current conditions.
The conflict, which escalated after US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, led to a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8. The first round of talks in Islamabad—lasting over 20 hours—marked the highest-level direct engagement between Washington and Tehran in years, covering key issues such as maritime security, sanctions, and Iran’s nuclear programme.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Pakistan remains actively engaged in bringing both sides back to the negotiating table in hopes of achieving a lasting resolution.