A top Iranian delegation is on its way to Pakistan seeking “ironclad” security guarantees from mediators, marking the beginning of a high-level diplomatic effort aimed at mediating talks with the United
States amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.
This comes a day after US President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause in the military campaign against Iran, following what he claimed to be “very good” and “productive” talks with Iran to find a solution towards a “complete end of the war”.
According to a top source in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the high-ranking delegation is expected to arrive in Pakistan in the next 24 to 48 hours. It signifies a strategic move that is increasingly looking towards regional partners to anchor its security and nuclear negotiations.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The top source in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) told News18 that the delegation’s primary objective is to secure “concrete and solid” security guarantees from neutral intermediaries before any direct dialogue with American officials can take place.
The IRGC source said Tehran is still skeptical about Washington’s reliability and “doesn’t trust Americans” any longer. They allegedly betrayed Iran on three separate occasions during previous negotiations in Muscat, Vienna, and Istanbul.
The source said consequently, Iran is now seeking 100 percent guarantees from its mediators, which may include Pakistan, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or Turkey, to serve as a buffer against future diplomatic failures. Only after these binding international commitments are secured will Iran consider holding direct talks with the United States.
WHY HAS IRAN CHOSEN PAKISTAN?
The IRGC source said the choice of Islamabad as a primary facilitator is not coincidental. The regime of Mojtaba Khamenei has maintained close contact with the Pakistani military establishment, which has been facilitating talks since the beginning of the conflict.
The source said Iran has expressed significant trust in Pakistan’s current leadership, specifically Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s regime, the source said, has appreciated the constructive role Pakistan has played in navigating these sensitive waters.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING THE TALKS?
The IRGC source said during the first phase of this visit, the Iranian delegation is scheduled to hold intensive meetings with Pakistan’s top civilian and military brass.
The source said these discussions are expected to include Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Munir, foreign minister Ishaq Dar, and the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). This initiative represents a broader shift in Iranian foreign policy, as the president and foreign minister remain in regular contact with Turkey, Egypt, and Oman to build a regional coalition for mediation.
Sources in Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said the upcoming 72 hours are a critical and “happening” window, which will likely determine the success of this multifaceted diplomatic mission.
WHAT DID THE US SAY?
Only hours ago, the White House said reports of such a meeting between Iran and US officials in Pakistan are “speculative”.
On Monday (March 24), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said nothing concrete could be said as of now over reports claiming that vice president JD Vance, special presidential envoy for peace missions Steve Witkoff and businessman and former senior adviser to the President Jared Kushner, will meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad. She said it should not be deemed as final until it is formally announced by the White House.
“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions, and the US will not negotiate through the press. This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House,” Leavitt said.
The Times of Israel reported about an unnamed Israeli official who said mediating countries are trying to convene a meeting in Islamabad between the US and Iran – possibly as soon as later this week.
(With agency inputs)
