ISLAMABAD: A flurry of diplomatic activity was witnessed on Thursday, as the US and Iran continued to trade strikes for a second straight day, raising concerns over the fate of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, and leaving Gulf states reeling from the aftermath of Iran’s ‘counterattacks’.
Pakistan and Qatar, two of the main mediators who helped negotiate the Islamabad MoU that brought about a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East last month, made fresh contacts with the US and Iran to halt further military strikes and return to negotiations “as per [the] agreement”, Anadolu Agency reported.
“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 [the] agreement,” it quoted a source close to the mediation process as saying.
Meanwhile, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that Iran and the United States should commit to diplomacy, Reuters reported.
Pakistan, Qatar and Turkiye reach out to Iran; Dar meets UK envoy
Al-Thani added that Washington and Tehran should implement the signed memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war, the Qatari foreign minister said.
Iran launched drones towards a site in Qatar earlier in the day and a Qatari tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. Al-Thani condemned the attack in the call, the foreign ministry said.
According to Iranian state media, Mr Araghchi also held a call with Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, who had played a key intermediary role in the previous rounds of negotiations between the warring sides.
Although there was official word from Inter-Services Public Relations, the IRNA news agency reported that Araghchi and Field Marshal Munir discussed the latest developments in the region. The foreign minister termed the overnight strikes by Washington as clear violations of the UN Charter and the Islamabad MoU.
Mr Araghchi also spoke to his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, TRT reported, adding that the two diplomats have discussed the current state of the US-Iran ceasefire as well as the latest developments in the region.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar met British High Commissioner Jane Marriott in Islamabad to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments, including the recent escalation between the US and Iran, the Foreign Office said.
“PM/FM highlighted Pakistan’s constructive mediation efforts in support of dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation,” the FO said in a post on X, adding, “The British high commissioner appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability”.
Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2026