Pakistan brought together foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Sunday to discuss ending the Iran war and reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping route. The diplomatic meeting focused on proposals to restore maritime traffic through the waterway that previously handled a fifth of global oil supplies.
Regional diplomats gathered in Islamabad on Sunday as Pakistan worked to mediate discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing Iran conflict, with particular attention given to plans for reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.
Top diplomats from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia arrived in Pakistan’s capital for the diplomatic session, occurring as Iran issued warnings against potential U.S. ground operations and global energy prices continued climbing due to persistent military actions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The nations convening in Pakistan have presented various proposals to Washington regarding maritime commerce and restoring access through the Strait of Hormuz, five informed sources told Reuters, as part of broader initiatives to stabilize international shipping routes.
Before the current crisis, the Strait of Hormuz served as a critical passage for approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, but Iran has essentially blocked maritime traffic through the waterway following U.S. and Israeli aerial bombardments that commenced one month ago.
Pakistan has utilized its diplomatic relationships with both Tehran and Washington to become a central mediating force in the dispute, while Turkey and Egypt have also contributed to peace efforts, given Pakistan’s shared border with Iran similar to Turkey’s position.
One Pakistani source revealed that various proposals, including suggestions from Egypt, had been transmitted to the White House through Pakistani channels prior to Sunday’s gathering, incorporating fee arrangements similar to those used for the Suez Canal.
Additional Pakistani sources indicated that Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were considering establishing a joint consortium to oversee petroleum transit through the strategic waterway, and had requested Pakistan’s participation in such an arrangement.
The consortium concept had been presented to both American and Iranian officials, according to the sources. The initial Pakistani source noted that the nation’s military leader Asim Munir had maintained ongoing communications with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Neither Egypt’s nor Pakistan’s foreign ministry offices provided responses to requests for statements. Saudi government representatives and White House officials also did not immediately reply to comment requests.
A Turkish diplomatic official stated that Ankara’s main objective remained achieving a cessation of hostilities.
“Ensuring the safe passage of ships could serve as an important confidence-building measure in this regard,” the person said, requesting anonymity.
Earlier Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar conducted individual bilateral discussions with his counterparts from Turkey and Egypt, emphasizing the importance of continued diplomatic dialogue and engagement, the foreign office reported.
In a separate development, Dar announced through a social media post that Iran had consented to permit 20 additional Pakistani-registered vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.