Pakistan Calls for US-Iran De-escalation as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Grow

PBS

A billboard in Islamabad highlights Pakistan-hosted peace talks between the United States and Iran in April 2026.

Pakistan said on Thursday that negotiations between the United States and Iran are "still ongoing" despite escalating military tensions in the region, stressing that it is making "every possible effort" to bring both sides back to the negotiating table under a memorandum of understanding brokered by Islamabad last June.

The agreement was suspended following renewed exchanges of fire between Washington and Tehran. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andarbi said during a press briefing that Pakistan was working to restore the parties' commitment to the memorandum and encourage both countries to "fully honour their obligations to hold technical talks".

He said the discussions were focused on reducing tensions and addressing issues related to navigation and security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan's comments came after the US Central Command announced that it had carried out a "severe wave" of strikes lasting two hours against dozens of sites linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including military command centres, drone facilities and naval capabilities.

CENTCOM said the operation was conducted in response to Iran's ballistic missile launches targeting US forces in the region, adding that the strikes aimed to further reduce threats posed by Iran and its allied groups against American forces, commercial shipping and neighbouring Gulf states.

Iran later announced that it had launched attacks against US bases in Jordan and vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as long as what it described as US threats to maritime traffic continued.

In a statement, the IRGC said that two oil tankers had attempted to move away from the "unsafe route" south of the Strait of Hormuz following guidance from US aircraft. It claimed that after one of the vessels caught fire while entering the area, both ships quickly returned.

The IRGC added that the Strait of Hormuz was under its control and warned that foreign intervention would not be tolerated. It said any country supporting what it called aggression would face a strong response unless it changed its position.

The force also warned that continued threats and interference would only make the situation "more difficult and complicated".


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