Smoke rises above the city skyline in Riyadh, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Photo: Reuters
Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh warned that Iran is too “war-torn” to respond quickly in negotiations as President Donald Trump extends his strike deadline.
Speaking on Fox News show “Special Report” on Monday Sheikh cast Pakistan as an active facilitator in de-escalation talks but warned that the process is complicated by Tehran’s diminished ability to communicate amid the chaos of war and damaged infrastructure.
“Iran is a war-torn country with communication channels certainly disrupted, and it is not even easy to get responses in a good time from the system that currently is in place there,” he said.
Sheikh said, “Diplomacy is a gradual process,” and expressed hope that peace talks would soon proceed for the good of the region.
He pointed to Iran’s willingness to allow some oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as evidence that confidence was building in the possibility of negotiations.
Trump also delayed his 48-hour deadline for Iran to clear the Strait of Hormuz, which was set to expire Monday evening, and ordered the Department of War to pause attacks on Iranian power infrastructure amid negotiations with Tehran.
Sheikh said a ceasefire is a good start to any negotiation process, “but it is, of course, upon the conflicting parties to reach an understanding there and indicate something good on that scope.”
Pakistan has effectively positioned itself at the forefront of mediation efforts to end the ongoing conflict, leveraging its ties with these global powerhouses.
The country previously denounced the strikes on Iran but also recently backed a Gulf-led resolution against Iran at the United Nations, condemning regional aggression.
Sheikh expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in Pakistan and said his country was ready and willing to help end hostilities.
