ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is preparing to send another senior delegation to Tehran as it seeks to revive stalled negotiations between Iran and the United States and ease the growing confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi group, according to officials.
Neither Islamabad nor Tehran has officially confirmed the proposed visit. However, a senior government official told The Express Tribune that plans for another diplomatic mission to Iran were under consideration and that the visit could take place soon.
Although the delegation’s composition has not been announced, diplomatic and government sources indicated that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was expected to lead it.
The initiative comes as Pakistan attempts to maintain its mediating role between Washington and Tehran while fulfilling its expanding security commitments to Saudi Arabia.
Houthi Attacks Add Urgency to Diplomatic Efforts
The latest fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis has added another challenge to Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts.
During the week, Saudi forces carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, while the group launched missiles and drones towards Saudi territory. The exchanges have raised concerns about the safety of Saudi energy facilities and shipping routes in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The proposed visit follows a telephone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Iranian media reported that the two discussed regional developments while Araghchi was visiting Beijing.
According to the Financial Times, Munir later communicated Pakistan’s concerns about Houthi attacks to Iranian officials and urged Tehran to use its influence to restrain the group. The newspaper reported that Islamabad had also warned of possible implications for its defence commitments to Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan’s security obligations have gained greater significance following the signing of a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in August. Under the arrangement, an attack against one signatory is to be regarded as an attack against all three.
Islamabad has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi security. On Friday, military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry described Pakistan’s commitment to the kingdom as unconditional.
Saudi Arabia has not formally requested Pakistani military involvement, and Islamabad continues to emphasise a diplomatic response.
The proposed Tehran visit could therefore address two issues: Pakistan’s concerns about Houthi attacks and the broader effort to restart negotiations between Iran and the United States.
Pakistan Seeks to Revive US-Iran Negotiations
Pakistan has undertaken several mediation initiatives during the seven-month conflict, including hosting indirect contacts between American and Iranian representatives.
Islamabad has consistently maintained that the dispute requires a negotiated settlement rather than a military solution.
The urgency of these efforts has increased as fighting disrupts major maritime energy routes.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains sharply reduced, while security conditions around Bab el-Mandeb have deteriorated.
Reuters reported on Friday that only four vessels carrying commodities passed through Hormuz on Thursday, compared with an average of 16 vessels over the preceding 10 days.
The regional escalation has also contributed to higher global energy prices and increased pressure on Gulf countries to pursue a diplomatic settlement.
According to Reuters, oil prices declined on Friday following diplomatic outreach, including efforts to persuade Iran to discourage Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure.
Washington and Tehran, however, remain divided. Although US President Donald Trump has expressed hope that the war with Iran is approaching its end, negotiations have yet to resume.
Pakistan is continuing its engagement with both countries while maintaining its strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan Condemns Houthi Attacks on Commercial Shipping
Pakistan has also called for an immediate end to Houthi attacks on merchant vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Speaking at a United Nations Security Council Arria-formula meeting convened by Bahrain, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, warned that the attacks could have serious consequences for maritime security and regional stability.
He urged the Houthis to halt actions threatening commercial shipping and described the attacks as a danger to peace and development across the region.
The ambassador particularly highlighted the threat to Saudi Arabia, which he said was facing aggression from the Houthis.
The meeting was the Security Council’s second major discussion during the week on threats to the strategic waterway and their implications for international trade.
Houthis Report 26 Saudi Strikes in 24 Hours
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthis claimed that Saudi Arabia had conducted 26 airstrikes against areas under their control during the preceding 24 hours.
According to AFP, the group said Saudi strikes on Houthi-held territory had reached 300 over the past week.
The claims came as fighting continued between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by Riyadh.
WTO Warns of Severe Disruption to Global Trade
The conflict is also placing pressure on international supply chains.
World Trade Organisation Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned that bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz could affect global food and fertiliser prices.
Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, she described the Middle East conflict as a major challenge for the organisation’s 166 member countries, while maintaining that the global trading system remained resilient.
She said global merchandise trade had grown by an unexpectedly strong 4.6 per cent this year despite geopolitical pressures, with 72 per cent of world commerce continuing to operate under WTO rules.
The WTO’s initial projection for full-year goods trade growth was 1.9 per cent, while first-quarter growth reached 3.2 per cent, exceeding expectations.
Italian Military Aircraft Damaged at Saudi Airbase
Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed that an Italian military aircraft was struck during attacks on an airbase in Saudi Arabia.
According to Anadolu, citing Italy’s ANSA news agency, Crosetto said the Taif airbase had been targeted several times. Italian personnel are stationed there as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.
He confirmed that an Italian F-2000 aircraft parked in a remote section of the base was hit.
No Italian military personnel were injured, and Crosetto reported no additional damage to equipment or infrastructure used by the Italian contingent.
The minister said he had requested a further assessment of security conditions, personnel safety and possible operational responses.
He added that protective measures for Italian forces had already been implemented and that authorities were closely following developments.
