Pakistan to continue mediation despite hard postures

ISTANBUL:

Pakistan will continue its mediation efforts to help reach a negotiated settlement to the Middle East conflict, with "no immediate danger" of a renewed war between the United States and Iran, multiple government sources familiar with the process told Anadolu on Monday.

"Pakistan does not see any immediate danger vis-a-vis resumption of war despite the ongoing deadlock, as Washington and Tehran are seriously pursuing a diplomatic way out to end the conflict," a source told Anadolu, referring to US President Donald Trump's rejection of Tehran's response to Washington's plan to end the war.

Also, the sources said, Trump does not want his upcoming China visit to be eclipsed by the resumption of hostilities.

Trump said on Sunday on his Truth Social platform that he had read the response from Iran's "so-called representatives" and described it as "totally unacceptable".

Iran, in return, said Trump's rejection of its response "doesn't matter at all".

Islamabad, the sources added, will continue its mediation to "break the deadlock despite the two sides' publicly adopted inflexibility on some issues, mainly Tehran's nuclear programme".

"Back-channel contacts are continuing despite harsh tones from both sides, with several regional countries, including Qatar and Egypt, assisting Islamabad in its mediatory efforts," a source said.

While Pakistan is still hopeful for the resumption of direct talks between the two sides, there is no "significant" change in Iran's previous stance on the nuclear issue in its response to the US proposals, according to the sources.

Tehran's response, which was delivered to the US via Islamabad last week, basically focuses on an "immediate" end to war, and "there is little [in it] in terms of Washington's core demand about Iran's nuclear programme", the sources further said.