Iran has rejected Pakistan’s recent offer to host direct talks between Tehran and Washington aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai clarified on Monday that no direct negotiations with the United States have taken place, and that only “excessive and unreasonable demands” have been communicated through intermediaries.
In a statement, the consulate emphasized, “Pakistan's forums are their own; we didn’t participate. Regional calls to end war are welcome, but remember who started it.” The statement underscored Iran’s position that it has not engaged in any official discussions with the United States through Pakistani-led channels, dismissing Islamabad’s claims of facilitating dialogue.
The announcement follows Pakistan’s assertion on Sunday that it was prepared to host talks between the US and Iran. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, hosted counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey in Islamabad to discuss the conflict’s regional impact, particularly disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Dar claimed that he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had spoken with senior Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while also being in contact with US representatives.
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The Islamabad meetings were held under strict security, without direct participation from the United States, Israel, or Iran. Tehran reportedly provided a response to a 15-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump via Pakistan, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. However, Iran has denied any formal engagement or negotiations with Washington.
Amid diplomatic tensions, military actions continue in the region. On Monday, Iran struck a water and electrical facility in Kuwait and an oil refinery in northern Israel, while the US and Israel maintained offensive operations targeting Iran. President Trump announced that Tehran had agreed to allow 20 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a gesture of cooperation, even as 2,500 US Marines were already deployed in the region with an additional contingent en route.
The ongoing standoff highlights the volatility in Gulf security, with Pakistan’s efforts to mediate facing outright rejection from Tehran, underscoring the complexities of regional diplomacy and the limits of third-party interventions.
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