Pakistan hosts regional powers for Iran talks, with focus on Hormuz proposals

ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL – Pakistan hosted talks with Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on March 29 as part of its efforts to broker an end to the Iran war, with initial discussions focused on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, sources familiar with the matter said.

Foreign ministers from the three regional powers landed in Islamabad for the talks as Iran warned the US against launching a ground attack and global oil prices surged amid continued fighting between Iran, the US and Israel.

The countries meeting in Pakistan have floated proposals to Washington tied to maritime traffic and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as part of wider efforts to stabilise shipping flows.

The Strait of Hormuz was previously a conduit for about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, but Iran has effectively halted shipping flows through it in response to the US and Israeli air strikes that began in February.

Proposals on reopening Hormuz

Pakistan, which, like Turkey, borders Iran, has leveraged its close ties to both Tehran and Washington to emerge as a key diplomatic channel in the conflict, while Ankara and Cairo have also played a role.

A source from Pakistan said proposals, including from Egypt, had been forwarded to the White House by the countries before the March 29 meeting and that they included Suez Canal-style fee structures.

Two other Pakistani sources said Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia could form a consortium to manage oil flows through the waterway, and had asked Pakistan to participate.

The proposal for a management consortium had been discussed with the US and Iran, the sources said. The first Pakistani source said the country’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, had been in regular contact with US Vice-President J.D. Vance.

Egypt’s and Pakistan’s foreign ministries did not respond to a request for comment. The Saudi government media office and the White House did not immediately reply to a comment request.

A Turkish diplomatic source said Ankara’s priority was securing a ceasefire.

“Ensuring the safe passage of ships could serve as an important confidence-building measure in this regard,” the person said, requesting anonymity.

Earlier on March 29, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate one-on-one meetings with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts, stressing dialogue and sustained diplomatic engagement, the foreign office said.

Separately, Mr Dar said in a post on X that Iran had agreed to allow 20 more Pakistani-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz. REUTERS