Smoke rises over Azadi Square following an attack, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran in Tehran on April 6. Photo: Reuters
Efforts are underway to facilitate talks between the United States and Iran, two Pakistani sources with knowledge of the discussions said. Reuters Tuesday, as U.S. attacks on Iran intensified and President Donald Trump’s deadline to unleash “hell” approached.
However, one of the sources, a senior security official, said Iran’s overnight attacks on Saudi Arabian industrial facilities linked to American companies threatened to derail the talks. If Saudi Arabia retaliated, the talks would be over, the source said, adding that it could drag Pakistan into the conflict under its defense pact with Riyadh, which obliges both nations to fight each other in the event of war.
The second source with knowledge of the talks said Iran was “walking on thin ice” and that the next three or four hours were critical for the future of the dialogue.
Pakistan has been the main broker for proposals shared by both sides, but there has been no sign of a compromise.
“We are in touch with the Iranians. They have lately shown flexibility in joining the talks, but at the same time they are adopting hard lines as a prerequisite for any negotiations,” the Pakistani security source said. He added that Islamabad was persuading Tehran to start negotiations without preconditions.
Read: Top military commanders condemn Iran’s attacks on Saudi facilities as an “unnecessary escalation” that derails mediation efforts.
Meanwhile, the Iranian ambassador in Islamabad said Pakistan’s facilitation of talks with the United States to end the war in the Middle East was “approaching a critical and sensitive stage.”
Pakistan’s positive and productive efforts in goodwill and good offices to stop the war are approaching a critical and sensitive stage…
Stay tuned for more
— Reza Amiri Moghadam (@IranAmbPak) April 7, 2026
Reza Amiri Moghadam’s comments come as Iran on Monday sent a proposal outlining its position on ending the war, rejecting a temporary ceasefire and instead calling for a permanent resolution.
Iran transmitted its response to a US proposal through Pakistan after two weeks of high-level deliberations.
US President Donald Trump later described Iran’s response as a “significant step”, although still insufficient.
“It’s not good enough, but it’s a very significant step,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Pakistan still expects a “positive response” from Iran despite Tehran’s “insistence on imposing preconditions” ahead of Trump’s Strait of Hormuz deadline in a few hours, a senior government official said. Anadolu today.
“The situation has become extremely complex and delicate as the next few hours are very crucial. We still hope to get a positive response from Tehran,” the official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Trump threatened Tuesday that “an entire civilization will die tonight,” as the deadline to reach a ceasefire deal with Iran expires in a few hours at 8 pm ET (0000GMT Wednesday).
Pakistan has positioned itself to mediate between the United States and Iran, leveraging its good relations with both Washington and Tehran, and its strategic and defense partnerships with China and Saudi Arabia.
Islamabad’s proposal, according to Pakistani sources, includes an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within two to three weeks to finalize a broader agreement, and subsequent in-person talks in Islamabad.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said a day ago that messages were still being exchanged between Iran and the United States through mediators. A senior Iranian source said Tehran had rejected a proposal for a temporary ceasefire and that talks were contingent on an end to the US-Israel attacks and compensation for damage.
The Foreign Office said today that the attacks on Saudi Arabia constituted a dangerous escalation.
“These unjustified aggressions have serious repercussions and ruin the current peaceful options and enabling environment,” a military statement added after top commanders met the army chief.
Pakistan wants to avoid being drawn into war, which could wreak havoc along its shared western border with Iran.
Analysts say the defense deal may not trigger immediate military action, but could be activated if the conflict escalates.
Iran’s willingness to risk embarrassing Pakistan at a time when “it is crucial to negotiate a ceasefire reveals how committed Tehran is to a tit-for-tat strategy that punishes the Gulf for attacks by the United States and Israel,” said Adam Weinstein, an expert on Pakistan, Afghanistan and American politics at the Quincy Institute.
