Iran Says Talks With US Continue Through Pakistani Mediation Amid Deepening Iran-US Tensions

Iran said talks with the United States are continuing through Pakistani mediation, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei telling reporters, "The Americans presented proposals, and we also presented our views," on Monday.

“Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan is scrambling to keep channels of diplomacy open between the United States and Iran, amid escalating rhetoric from both sides, and growing signals from Washington that it is prepared to restart attacks that have been on pause since an April 8 ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran”

Al Jazeera

Baqaei said exchanges were "continuing through the Pakistani mediator" and did not provide details, while WION reported Iran responded to a new US proposal aimed at ending the war on May 18.

Al Jazeera

WION said Iran’s Fars news agency reported Washington gave a five-point list, including a demand for Iran to keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US.

WION also said Iran’s proposal demanded prerequisites for starting negotiations, including the end of the war on all fronts with particular emphasis on Lebanon, the lifting of sanctions, the release of Iran’s frozen financial assets, compensation for war damages, and formal recognition of Iran’s sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni in Tehran on Saturday, as Iranian state media reported, while Islamabad continued diplomatic efforts to ease tensions tied to the ongoing Iran-US conflict and disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz blockade.

IRNA reported that Momeni and Naqvi discussed bilateral relations, including "joint measures by the two neighboring countries to facilitate border trade, transit, and exchange of goods," and IRNA said Momeni expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s "friendly and brotherly stance".

Al-Yawm as-Sabi'

Al Jazeera said Pakistan is scrambling to keep channels of diplomacy open between the United States and Iran as rhetoric escalates, and it reported that US President Donald Trump issued a warning on Truth Social: "For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them."

Al Jazeera also quoted Baghaei saying that despite Trump publicly calling Iran’s response "totally unacceptable" last week, Washington had sent "a set of revised points and considerations" through Pakistani mediators and that "The process is continuing through Pakistan".

WION reported that Baqaei said Iranian leaders are in talks with the Omani side to develop a mechanism to ensure navigation via Strait of Hormuz, adding that an expert meeting was held in Muscat and contacts between Iran and Oman are ongoing.

“Skip to main content live_blog_singular Iran says talks with US continue through Pakistani mediation ‘The Americans presented proposals, and we also presented our views,’ foreign ministry spokesman says 18 May 2026”

Anadolu Ajansı

WION said Baqaei told reporters, "We have no enmity with any of the countries in the region and will be permanent neighbours," and he invited countries in the region, including the UAE, to be wary of "the machinations of foreign parties."

Yeni Şafak reported that Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, reaffirmed his country’s full support for Pakistan’s mediation between Iran and the United States, stressing the need for all parties to respond to diplomatic initiatives.

Yeni Şafak also said Washington has imposed a blockade on Iran’s ports since April 13, including at the Strait of Hormuz, and Tehran responded by closing the strait to navigation except in coordination with it, while the ceasefire announced on April 8 remains in place.