Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Islamabad is prepared to facilitate "meaningful and conclusive" talks between the United States and Iran to achieve a "comprehensive settlement" aimed at ending the war in the Middle East. The announcement was made on the social media platform X, where Sharif expressed Pakistan's full support for ongoing dialogue efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, the statement from Prime Minister Sharif comes in the wake of discussions between Pakistan's army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, and US President Donald Trump about the ongoing conflict with Iran. Pakistan has positioned itself as a potential host for high-level discussions between US and Iranian officials, as part of its diplomatic strategy to mediate the conflict.

Following Sharif's post, US President Trump shared a screenshot of the statement on his Truth Social platform, signaling potential openness to the proposed talks. Pakistani sources revealed that a US delegation is expected to arrive in Pakistan shortly for potential negotiations aimed at resolving the Iran war. However, the sources noted that Iran remains hesitant, citing mistrust in engaging with Washington.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry reiterated the country's dedication to resolving the Middle East conflict through diplomatic means. Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi emphasized the need for discretion in advancing diplomatic efforts, urging media outlets to avoid speculation.

The ongoing conflict has seen US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran since February 28, resulting in over 1,340 casualties, including the death of Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf countries hosting US military assets, leading to casualties and significant infrastructure damage.

On Monday, President Trump announced a temporary five-day suspension of strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, describing recent talks with Tehran as "very good and productive." However, Iranian officials dismissed claims of such discussions, labeling them as "fake news," while acknowledging receiving messages from "friendly countries" suggesting US interest in talks.