ISLAMABAD / TEHRAN, May 18 — Pakistan is continuing its intense diplomatic push to save the fragile Middle East ceasefire. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held high-level meetings with top Iranian leaders in Tehran on Sunday, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy PM Ishaq Dar contacted other key regional leaders. This emergency diplomatic mission comes as US President Donald Trump warned that the “clock is ticking for Iran” and urged them to speed up peace talks. Pakistan remains a central mediator in the conflict, a role previously acknowledged by the US president.
Pakistan steps in to facilitate stalled US-Iran talks
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Pakistan’s interior minister arrived in Tehran on Saturday to help advance negotiations between Iran and the US, according to Iranian media reports.“Mohsin Naqvi arrived today in the Islamic Republic of Iran on an… pic.twitter.com/FvZJqzZSVr
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 16, 2026
Quick Facts
- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a 90-minute meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
- US President Donald Trump warned that the “clock is ticking” for the current ceasefire.
- Iran’s parliament speaker stated that US military presence only creates regional insecurity.
- Media reports show the latest US peace proposal offers no major concessions to Iran.
- The US is demanding Iran hand over its enriched uranium and shut down all but one nuclear site.
During his 90-minute meeting with Naqvi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s leadership, including PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, for their vital role in brokering the truce. He called on Muslim nations to unite against outside aggression and accused the US and Israel of trying to divide the region. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf thanked Pakistan for its steady support during the war and pushed for stronger political, economic, and security ties between Islamabad and Tehran.
Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi Meets Iranian President Amid Regional Tensions
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran during a key diplomatic visit focused on regional peace and bilateral cooperation. The talks come amid growing… pic.twitter.com/K1uMBIUESg
— Nexus News US (@NexusNewsUS) May 17, 2026
Despite these meetings, the peace process faces a major roadblock over tough conditions from Washington. According to Iranian media, the latest US proposal offers no real benefits to Iran. Instead, the US is demanding that Iran give up its enriched uranium stockpile, close multiple nuclear facilities, and accept the terms before any permanent end to hostilities is signed. Washington has also refused to unfreeze Iranian financial assets or pay for war damages. This stands in sharp contrast to Iran’s demands, which include an immediate end to US naval blockades, the lifting of all sanctions, and continued Iranian control over the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.
