Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered Islamabad as a venue for direct negotiations between the United States and Iran, as Pakistan joins Turkey and Egypt in acting as intermediaries in what has become the most significant diplomatic push since the conflict began four weeks ago.

"Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict," Sharif wrote on X on March 24.

Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir spoke with US President Donald Trump on March 23, around the time the US announced a delay to planned strikes on Iranian infrastructure. Sharif then called Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressing the need for de-escalation and a return to dialogue.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry sources told Anadolu Agency that a US delegation was expected in Pakistan "in a day or two" for possible talks, but that Iran was "still not ready" due to mistrust.

According to Axios, two possible formats are under discussion for a meeting in Islamabad. One involves Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Israeli sources said Vice President JD Vance may also attend.

Senior Pakistani officials have been back-channelling communications between Tehran and Witkoff and Kushner, according to two people briefed on the matter. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told Arab counterparts at a meeting in Riyadh last week that Islamabad was mediating between the US and Iran.

Iran's foreign ministry acknowledged receiving messages through third parties. Spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed that Iran had received messages from "certain friendly states conveying the US request for negotiations to end the war" and that appropriate responses had been given.

Pakistan's leverage lies in a rare combination of ties. It is the only Muslim-majority nuclear-armed state that does not host US military bases, while sharing a 900km border with Iran and maintaining longstanding defence ties with Saudi Arabia, cemented by a mutual defence pact signed in September 2025.

Trump said on March 24 he believed there was "a very good chance" of reaching a deal and announced a five-day pause on threatened strikes against Iranian power infrastructure, describing recent conversations as productive but preliminary.