Another bid to mend US-Iran fences ‘with China’s blessing’

TEHRAN: Iranian-made ‘Zulfiqar’ missiles are displayed at Azadi Square. As the US kept up its missile strikes on Iranian targets, the IRGC vowed to ‘kill a member of the US forces for every Iranian killed’.—AFP

• Exploratory talks held during Iranian interior minister’s recent Islamabad visit
• Dar meets Araghchi at SCO summit; Qatar calls for implementing Islamabad MoU
• Beijing concerned as Red Sea closure would compound Hormuz woes
• Trump says Iran getting serious about talks; warns China, Russia against ‘getting involved’ in conflict
• Says US will punish Iran for attacks on ships by Houthi rebels
• Four die as US continues strikes on Iran

ISLAMABAD / DUBAI: Pakistan is said to be exploring a path towards a resumption of stalled US-Iran talks to end their nearly five-month-old war, following a push initiated by China.

The development came as US missiles struck targets across Iran on Friday after President Donald Trump vowed “major military punishment” for Tehran and its Houthi allies in Yemen for extending the Middle East war to a second major shipping chokepoint, the mouth of the Red Sea.

According to Reuters, exploratory discussions for the fresh push towards talks took place during a visit by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni to Islamabad this week, his second within the last 10 days.

Earlier this week, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels had declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, which signed a mutual defence treaty with Pakistan last year.

Beijing, which has consistently backed Pakistan’s mediation efforts, had dispatched its special envoy in March to lead a shuttle-diplomacy trip around the Middle East.

China’s interests are being harmed by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and disruptions to the Red Sea route would hit another key trade route Beijing relies on.

In a statement, China’s foreign ministry said “China supports the mediation efforts made by Pakistan and other parties.”

It added that China will continue to “play an active role in restoring peace and tranquility in the Middle East Gulf region as soon as possible.”

Separately, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani called on all parties to commit to dialogue and to implement the terms of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.

This includes “ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, to preserve regional security, safeguard the gains achieved, and enhance regional stability”, the Qatari foreign ministry said.

Sheikh Mohammed made the remarks in Doha during a meeting with the new British foreign secretary, Ed Miliband.

Implementing the memorandum was necessary to preserve regional security, safeguard the gains achieved and strengthen stability, Sheikh Mohammed said, reiterating Qatar’s full support for efforts to defuse tensions and reach a comprehensive agreement securing lasting peace in the region.

‘Serious about talks’

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Friday that he had not decided on whether to launch major strikes on Iran as Tehran was now getting “very serious” in talks with Washington.

“Look, we’re talking to them right now. I think they’re getting more and more serious as the days go by, for maybe the obvious reason.”

Earlier, in a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump said that he does not believe China or Russia are “participating” in the ongoing Iran conflict, but warned that if they did get inv­o­lved “it would be very bad for them”.

Trump also said that he would hold Iran accountable for any further attacks by Yemeni fighters, “and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves”.

Iranian media cited the head of Iran’s top joint military command as saying Iran would kill a member of the US forces for every Iranian killed.

On Friday, US missiles struck a Revolutionary Guards Navy headquarters in the Ziba Kenar area of the Caspian Sea province of Gilan, according to a security official in Gilan. Provincial authorities said US projectiles had also struck the port city of Bandar Anzali, according to the ILNA news agency.

Four people were killed and five injured in a US attack on the Iranian city of Ahvaz, the state broadcaster IRIB said.

Diplomatic contacts

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Ara­g­hchi, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said the two top diplomats reviewed the ongoing regional situation and bilateral ties.

“DPM/FM expressed deep concern over recent regional tensions and underscored the importance of dialogue, restraint, de-escalation by all sides, and sustained diplomatic engagement to achieve lasting peace and stability,” the FO said in a post on X.

“He emphasised the need to build on the understandings reached und­er the Islamabad MoU of June 2026.”

“The two sides agreed to maintain close coordination and regular consultations on issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to working together for regional peace, stability and shared prosperity,” the statement concluded.

Separately, in his remarks at the SCO summit, Mr Dar said: “Pakistan firmly believes that dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect provide the only sustainable way forward to resolve conflicts and achieve durable peace and security.”

He added that this principle led to Pakistan hosting talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad in April, “enabling first high-level direct diplomatic contact between the two sides after 47 years”.

Mr Dar then urged the international community to seize the opportunity provided by the Islamabad MoU and US-Iran technical talks to push for lasting peace.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2026 ...