Breaking update: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly credited Pakistan for its mediation role with Iran, adding a new diplomatic angle to the still-unresolved U.S.-Iran deal push after President Donald Trump left a Friday Situation Room meeting without a final decision.
TRT World reported that Rubio met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Washington and thanked him for what the State Department called Pakistan’s “constructive role” in advancing peace efforts in the Middle East and its mediation with Iran.
Anadolu also reported that Rubio thanked Pakistan for efforts to mediate with Iran. Arab News reported that Dar told Rubio Islamabad remained confident its regional peace efforts could produce progress.
That is the new point. The story is no longer only about whether Trump approves a proposed arrangement on Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. Washington is also signaling that Pakistan is an active channel in the diplomacy around the Iran crisis.
Pakistan Is Back In The Mediation Lane
According to TRT World, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio thanked Dar for Pakistan’s role in “realizing President Trump’s vision for peace in the Middle East” and for its mediation efforts with Iran. The same report said the two officials agreed to strengthen a partnership focused on security and prosperity for both Americans and Pakistanis.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry separately said Rubio acknowledged Islamabad’s diplomatic and mediatory efforts and commended continued coordination between Pakistan’s leadership and the U.S. administration. Dar said Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace and stability, with support from friendly countries, could yield positive results.
The timing matters. Pakistan has already been positioned as a diplomatic bridge in the conflict. TRT World reported that a ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but that later talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement.
The Deal Is Still Not Final
The mediation signal comes as the White House remains undecided on the larger Iran package. Recent reporting from AP, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and TRT World said Trump met advisers for roughly two hours on Friday but did not immediately approve a final agreement.
Trump has described the potential deal as including an Iranian commitment never to obtain a nuclear weapon and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted commercial shipping. He has also demanded an end to tolls and the removal of mines from the waterway.
Iran has not publicly accepted that framing. Iranian officials and state-linked outlets have disputed parts of Trump’s description and said there is still no final agreement.
Why It Matters
Pakistan’s role could matter because the current dispute is not just a military or maritime crisis. It is also a negotiation over nuclear limits, shipping access, sanctions pressure, and regional political recognition.
Dar also used his Washington stop to restate Pakistan’s position on Israel and the Abraham Accords. TRT World and Dawn reported that Dar said Pakistan would not change its stance toward Israel unless there is progress toward an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.
That matters because U.S. diplomacy in the region is increasingly being bundled together: Iran, Gaza, Gulf security, shipping through Hormuz, and potential normalization tracks are all moving at the same time.
What Comes Next
The immediate question is whether Pakistan’s channel can help move Tehran and Washington from competing public statements to a signed arrangement.
For now, there are three things to watch: whether Trump formally approves the proposal, whether Iran confirms any matching commitments, and whether ships can move through the Strait of Hormuz without new fees, mines, or military interference.
If Pakistan remains in the middle of those discussions, Rubio’s comments mark more than a diplomatic courtesy. They show Washington is keeping Islamabad close as the Iran crisis moves into another decision point.