Pakistan convened officials from Turkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia on Sunday to discuss a diplomatic end to the Iran war with cnversations in Islamabad centered on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime shipping.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has stated that the regional powers examined “possible ways to bring an early and permanent end to the war in the region.”
During the first day of sessions, participants received briefings on potential US-Iran talks in Islamabad. The meetings took place as Iran warned the US against a ground attack while global oil prices fluctuate amid fighting between Iran, the US, and Israel.
The foreign ministers have floated proposals to Washington DC regarding maritime traffic in the Gulf to stabilize shipping flows, five sources told an international media outlet. The Strait of Hormuz previously carried one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, but Iran halted flows following U.S. and Israeli air strikes a month ago.
A Pakistani source informed an international media outlet that proposals, including those from Egypt, reached the White House before the Sunday meeting. These plans reportedly involve Suez Canal-style fee structures.
Two additional Pakistani sources said that Turkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia could form a consortium to manage oil flows through the waterway, while claiming that Pakistan was asked to participate.
A day earlier, Dar held one-on-one meetings with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts.
Dar noted that all sides expressed confidence in Pakistan’s role, adding that China “fully supports” the initiative. Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the White House did not provide comment on the matter.
