Overview
- Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt met in Islamabad on March 29 and issued a joint message that diplomacy and dialogue are essential.
- Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said U.S.–Iran talks brokered by Islamabad are likely within a few days, though this has not been confirmed by Washington or Tehran in this coverage.
- Dar also said Iran approved transit for 20 Pakistan-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz at roughly two per day, a step Pakistan framed as crisis management for trade and crews.
- According to reporting cited by Jiji from Reuters sources, the visiting ministers floated a consortium to manage oil shipments through the strait, with a Suez-style transit fee, and shared the idea with the U.S. and Iran.
- The four governments presented Islamabad as a potential venue for first contacts, reflecting a regional attempt to open a diplomatic off-ramp and reduce risks around the vital Hormuz chokepoint for global energy flows.