Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are working behind the scenes to bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran, with US Vice President JD Vance floated as a potential attendee for talks in Islamabad.
BY PC Bureau
March 24, 2026: Diplomatic efforts to ease the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran are pivoting toward Pakistan, with a high-level meeting in Islamabad potentially taking place as early as this week. The renewed diplomatic push follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a five-day pause on military strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure to allow room for negotiations.
Regional Mediators Take the Lead Behind the scenes, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt have been actively working to bring both sides to the negotiating table. Pakistani leadership has taken a prominent role; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently offered Islamabad’s full support for regional peace during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Additionally, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has reportedly held discussions with both the Iranian president and President Trump.
According to senior Israeli officials cited by Reuters, contacts are currently underway to organize the Islamabad summit, with US Vice President JD Vance floated as Washington’s potential representative.
While Trump says he’s holding talks with Iran, the U.S. is still deploying thousands of troops against Iran.
— USS Boxer ARG + 11th MEU (~2,500 Marines).
— USS Tripoli ARG + 31st MEU (~2,200 Marines).
Total in region: 50,000+ US troops
82nd Airborne Division (paratroopers):…
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 23, 2026
READ: Trump’s Claim, Denial, and the Mystery Over His Iran Contact
WHITE HOUSE DENIAL:
Intensifying Backchannel Communications The broader diplomatic landscape has seen a rapid increase in backchannel engagement. Foreign ministers from the mediating nations have held separate talks with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Furthermore, Israeli media reports suggest that Witkoff and Jared Kushner have engaged with Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has become a central decision-maker in Tehran during the crisis.
Contrasting Narratives on Diplomatic Progress Despite the flurry of diplomatic activity, starkly contrasting narratives have emerged regarding the actual progress of the talks. President Trump has painted an optimistic picture, claiming that the two nations have established “major points of agreement” and asserting that Tehran initiated the outreach.
“If it goes well, we’re going to end up settling this. Otherwise, we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out,” Trump stated regarding the five-day ceasefire. These declarations of rapid progress and existing agreements reportedly caught Israeli officials by surprise.
Tehran, however, has firmly pushed back against Washington’s framing. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson categorically denied that any direct talks had taken place with the US over the past 24 days. Nevertheless, a senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official told CBS News that Tehran is currently reviewing proposals received from the US through intermediaries. This suggests that while direct negotiations are denied, the groundwork for formal talks may be actively taking shape.
