Pakistan's interior minister has arrived in Tehran and is to meet Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Araghchi
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has arrived in Tehran for a second visit in less than a week, where he is expected to meet with senior Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The visit is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts by Pakistan to mediate between the United States and Iran, following a series of escalations in the Gulf region that began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. These strikes prompted retaliatory actions from Iran, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.
While a fragile ceasefire was announced on April 8, negotiations between Washington and Tehran have largely stalled, with Iran’s uranium enrichment program and regional security concerns remaining unresolved. Pakistan has positioned itself as a neutral and credible mediator, leveraging its historical ties with both countries and its strategic location between South Asia and the Middle East. The country’s mediation role has been reinforced by its recent alignment with regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt, as well as its coordination with China, which has publicly endorsed Pakistan’s efforts.
During his previous visit to Tehran, Naqvi met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Araghchi, and other senior officials. The discussions reportedly focused on bilateral trade and transit arrangements, including measures to enhance cross-border commerce amid ongoing sanctions and foreign exchange constraints in Iran. Both countries have been exploring alternative mechanisms, such as barter trade and border markets, to circumvent financial restrictions and boost economic cooperation.
The current diplomatic engagement is also significant for Pakistan’s economic stability. The country imports nearly 90 percent of its crude oil from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and relies heavily on LNG from Qatar. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have led to increased energy costs, with fuel prices rising nearly 20 percent in a single week. A prolonged conflict could further strain Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and exacerbate inflationary pressures, particularly in the agriculture sector, which is highly dependent on urea imports.
Beyond economic concerns, Pakistan is also keen to prevent regional instability from spilling into its territory. The country shares a 900-kilometre border with Iran’s Balochistan province, an area already vulnerable to cross-border militant activity. A stable Iran is seen as essential to maintaining security in the region and supporting Pakistan’s broader economic ambitions, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
While Pakistan’s mediation efforts have gained international recognition, the outcome of the current talks remains uncertain. Both the US and Iran have expressed skepticism about each other’s intentions, with Iran citing deep-seated distrust of Washington as a major obstacle to negotiations. Pakistan’s role, therefore, is primarily that of a facilitator, ensuring that communication channels remain open and that the fragile ceasefire holds. The success of these efforts will depend on the willingness of both parties to compromise and the broader regional dynamics that continue to shape the conflict.
