Pakistan remains central to U.S.-Iran diplomacy : Former AJK President

MIRPUR (AJK) , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point news - 7th May, 2026) Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President, Sardar Masood Khan said on Thursday that Pakistan continued to play a key diplomatic role in ongoing contacts between the United States and Iran, amid signs that both sides might be moving toward a memorandum of understanding aimed at easing regional tensions.

Speaking in an international television interview, Khan, who also served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the United Nations, said recent developments pointed to renewed diplomatic momentum despite heightened rhetoric and military signalling from Washington and Tehran over the past two days.

He said concerns had intensified across the middle East and global financial markets following the escalation in statements from both the sides, but added that diplomatic assessments suggested efforts toward de-escalation were gaining traction.

Masood Khan said U.S. President Donald Trump’s reported decision to pause “Project Freedom” as a confidence-building measure that had opened space for negotiations, while cautioning that military and economic tensions remained high.

He said Pakistan had undertaken a “delicate and highly demanding” diplomatic role by facilitating communication between two long-standing adversaries with deeply entrenched positions.

According to Khan, Islamabad had first coordinated with regional states before engaging major international actors including China, Russia and the European Union.

He said Pakistan continued to retain the trust of both Washington and Tehran, which he described as critical to sustaining dialogue.

Outlining the broad structure of the proposed diplomatic framework, he said discussions centred on three areas: ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and restoring maritime trade flows; negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, including limited civilian uranium enrichment under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and the phased easing of sanctions alongside the possible release of frozen Iranian assets.

He acknowledged that uranium enrichment remained one of the most sensitive issues in the talks, but said there appeared to be growing flexibility that could allow Iran restricted enrichment rights for peaceful purposes under temporary limitations designed to address U.S. security concerns.

Khan added that sharp rhetoric from both governments was likely to persist for domestic political reasons and negotiating leverage, though he said both sides appeared committed to pursuing diplomacy.

APP/ahr/378