Pakistan and Qatar step in to de escalate US-Iran tensions , urge return to negotiations

Pakistan and Qatar have made fresh contacts with the United States and Iran in an effort to halt further military strikes and return to negotiations "as per agreement," Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Thursday.

Pakistan and Qatar have made fresh contacts with the United States and Iran in an effort to halt further military strikes and return to negotiations “as per agreement,” Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Thursday.

“Pakistan, together with Qatar, is in touch with Washington and Tehran to persuade the two sides to end hostilities and return to negotiations as per agreement,” a source close to the mediation process said. The source was referring to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the US and Iranian presidents last month, which gave the two sides 60 days to finalize a pact to permanently end their months-long war.

The diplomatic push comes after a fresh round of strikes and counter-strikes following an Iranian missile attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that the Islamabad MoU was “over,” while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized Washington’s stance as “a continuation of its warmongering policies.”

Despite the escalating rhetoric, Pakistan remains confident that the Islamabad MoU will stay intact, according to the sources. “What is happening right now is not unexpected as the issues between the two sides are chronic and highly complex,” the source said. “However, Pakistan is confident that the ongoing situation will not escalate into a full-fledged war. Both sides fully understand that a full-scale war is not in their interest.”

The source also cautioned that “one should not rule out further skirmishes in the future considering the nature of issues between the two sides.” Pakistan, which brokered the original MoU alongside Qatar, has been actively working to maintain the momentum of the peace process. The two countries have positioned themselves as key mediators in the US-Iran conflict, leveraging their relationships with both sides to bridge differences and prevent further escalation.

As the situation remains fluid, the international community is watching closely to see whether diplomatic efforts can salvage the peace process. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the US and Iran can return to the negotiating table or whether the region will once again be plunged into full-scale conflict. For now, Pakistan and Qatar continue their mediation efforts, urging restraint and dialogue as the only sustainable path to peace.