Where Iran-US peace talks could take place

The issue has been widely discussed since US President Donald Trump announced on Monday (March 23) that both sides have agreed to end the war. Although Iran has so far denied any meeting or dialogue. However, behind the scenes, various countries including Turkey, Russia, and Pakistan are trying to stop the conflict in various ways. The biggest question in this regard is: where could the peace talks or a possible meeting between representatives of Iran and the US take place.

There are also many rumors about the desired and expected venue. Last February, while talks between Washington and Tehran were ongoing in the Gulf country of Oman, Israel and the US launched an invasion of Iran. For this reason, neither side is considering Muscat as a possible venue.

According to a report by the Financial Times, Pakistan, which has been going through a difficult situation in the war between the Middle Eastern allies, is now trying to take on the role of the main mediator in establishing peace between Iran and its enemy states, the US and Israel.

Islamabad is using its close ties with Tehran and its closeness to Trump to do so.

So far, Islamabad has been pursuing a cautious diplomacy, condemning the attacks on Iran and calling for de-escalation. However, the report, citing sources, said that Pakistan has suggested Islamabad as a possible venue for talks between senior Trump administration officials and Iranian representatives this week.

The report also said that Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir spoke to the US president on Sunday (March 22) and Prime Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pajhwok on Monday (March 23). The call between Sharif and Pajhwok came just as Trump announced that he was suspending his threat to "destroy" Iranian power plants.

US and Iran Position

The US president claimed that he decided to suspend his threat after "very good and productive" talks with Tehran aimed at ending the war. Although Iran has denied the talks, it has acknowledged that some regional countries are involved in mediation efforts.

“In the past few days, messages have been received from the United States through some friendly countries requesting talks to end the war. [Those initiatives] have been appropriately responded to in line with our country’s fundamental position,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai told state news agency IRNA.

The spokesman stressed that there has been no change in Iran’s position on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz or the conditions for ending the war. Iranian Parliament Speaker M.B. Ghalibaf also said that there had been no talks with the United States.

“Fake news is being used to control the financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire that the United States and Israel are stuck in.”

Pakistan’s Efforts

According to reports, senior Pakistani officials are facilitating behind-the-scenes talks between Tehran and Trump’s envoys Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif has reportedly spoken to Iranian President Peskov several times since the war began. In a summary of their conversations on Monday (March 23), Pakistan said the prime minister briefed the Iranian president on the diplomatic efforts of the Pakistani leadership and assured him that Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role in bringing peace.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told Arab counterparts at a meeting in Riyadh last week that Islamabad was mediating between the United States and Iran, but he did not give details. A diplomat said Pakistan was leading the mediation effort.

Pakistan has no US bases and is one of the few US allies in the region that has been spared from Tehran’s missile and drone attacks. This has helped solidify Pakistan’s position as an impartial arbiter between Iran and the United States.