ISLAMABAD/ ISTANBUL, March 28 - Pakistan will host the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt for a two-day series of talks starting Sunday focused on the ongoing war involving Iran, the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The meeting will bring together the four countries' top diplomats for "in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region," the ministry said. Islamabad is framing the talks as part of its effort to serve as a possible venue for negotiations between Washington and Tehran over the month-old conflict.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the meeting as aimed at creating a mechanism for de-escalation. "We would discuss where the negotiations in this war are heading and how these four countries assess the situation and what can be done," he told broadcaster A Haber late on Friday.
The four countries have been active in mediation efforts between the United States and Iran since hostilities intensified on February 28. All four are noted in official statements as being particularly exposed to risks affecting energy supplies and trade routes, vulnerabilities that have heightened interest in diplomatic efforts to limit escalation.
According to the Pakistani government and subsequent comments from regional officials, Islamabad has passed a U.S. proposal to Tehran that outlines a potential end to the conflict and has offered to host further talks. Iranian officials have indicated that any direct negotiations could be held in Pakistan or Turkey.
In public remarks, U.S. President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were going "very well," while Iranian authorities deny engaging in talks with Washington. Tehran has been reviewing a 15-point proposal from the United States; one Iranian official described that proposal as "one-sided and unfair."
Sources and reports outline that the U.S. proposal contains demands that include dismantling Iran's nuclear programme, restricting its missile development and effectively ceding control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have publicly criticized the proposal's terms.
Speaking at a conference in Istanbul on Saturday, Minister Fidan framed the discussions in the context of a shifting global balance. He said the world's new "polycentric system" requires solutions to safeguard vital energy supplies and trade routes. He added that Turkey's participation in the high-level dialogue seeks to quickly identify "actionable steps" to end the conflict before there is further destruction to the region and global economy.
Context and next steps
The two-day meeting will focus on immediate measures for de-escalation and on assessing the trajectory of negotiations connected to the conflict. Participating foreign ministers are expected to exchange assessments and consider mechanisms intended to reduce the likelihood of further disruption to energy markets and international shipping lanes.
How these consultations will influence direct talks involving Washington and Tehran remains uncertain, as Iranian officials have signalled skepticism toward the U.S. proposal and publicly denied bilateral talks with the United States.