Iran and Pakistan hold second day of talks amid US mediation efforts

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Wednesday, marking their second meeting in as many days, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported. The two officials convened at Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport upon Naqvi's arrival, though no details were provided regarding the specific issues discussed. The meeting comes at a critical juncture, as Pakistan continues to facilitate mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending the ongoing military confrontation.

Ceasefire extension under discussion

Pakistani government sources told Anadolu that the United States and Iran have "agreed" in principle to extend the 60-day ceasefire established under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which is set to expire on August 17. "Both sides have conveyed their consent to the mediators to extend the deadline," a source close to the process said, adding that negotiations are ongoing to determine the exact length of the extension. The diplomatic push follows a series of military exchanges between the two nations between July 8 and July 24, including US strikes on Iranian targets and Iranian retaliatory attacks on US facilities in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Pakistan's mediating role

Naqvi's visit comes approximately one month after Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni travelled to Islamabad for talks with his Pakistani counterpart, underscoring the deepening diplomatic engagement between the two neighbours. Pakistan, alongside Qatar, has played a pivotal role in facilitating the June memorandum of understanding that launched negotiations toward a final agreement. However, the talks later stalled over disagreements concerning security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world's most vital chokepoints for global energy supplies and trade.