WEB DESK: Pakistan has been invited to take part in talks between Iran and the United States aimed at de-escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington, a Reuters report said on Tuesday.
An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the discussions are expected to take place at the level of foreign ministers. Countries invited to participate include Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
The official said the format of the talks remains unclear, but the main meeting is expected to be held on Friday. He added that initiating dialogue was important to prevent further escalation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Tuesday that he had ordered the start of nuclear negotiations with the United States, following warnings from US President Donald Trump that “bad things” would happen if no agreement was reached.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian said he had instructed the foreign minister to pursue fair and equitable negotiations, provided the environment was free from threats and unreasonable expectations. He added that any talks would be held within the framework of Iran’s national interests.
Meanwhile, Washington has dispatched an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East after anti-government protests in Iran peaked last month.
Trump has said he remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached with Iran, but warned earlier this week of consequences if negotiations fail.
Tehran has reiterated its preference for diplomacy while warning of a strong response to any aggression. Iranian officials have stressed that negotiations must remain limited to the nuclear issue, rejecting talks on missile programmes or defence capabilities.
In an interview with CNN broadcast on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a nuclear deal with the United States was achievable if Washington pursued a fair approach.
Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei has warned that a US attack on Iran could trigger a regional war.
A regional official told Reuters that the priority of this week’s talks in Istanbul is to avoid conflict and de-escalate tensions between the two sides.
