Pakistan's Foreign Minister: Working to bridge Washington-Tehran gap; Lebanon one of main negotiation hurdles
4/18/2026 2:31:34 PM
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, stated that Islamabad is working to bridge differences between the United States and Iran, emphasizing that Lebanon remains a central issue in ongoing discussions.
Dar said Washington and Tehran had come very close to reaching an agreement during recent talks held in Islamabad. He noted that Pakistan is actively seeking to maintain diplomatic momentum and narrow the gap between both sides.
He stressed that the current ceasefire presents a "narrow window of opportunity" that must be used to prevent a return to military escalation in the region.
According to Dar, Lebanon is one of key points of contention between the parties. Iran insists that any agreement with the United States be linked to halting Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, while Washington is attempting to separate the Lebanon conflict from negotiations with Tehran over nuclear and regional security issues.
Dar said Washington and Tehran had come very close to reaching an agreement during recent talks held in Islamabad. He noted that Pakistan is actively seeking to maintain diplomatic momentum and narrow the gap between both sides.
He stressed that the current ceasefire presents a "narrow window of opportunity" that must be used to prevent a return to military escalation in the region.
According to Dar, Lebanon is one of key points of contention between the parties. Iran insists that any agreement with the United States be linked to halting Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, while Washington is attempting to separate the Lebanon conflict from negotiations with Tehran over nuclear and regional security issues.