Pakistan is pressing ahead with diplomatic efforts to facilitate talks between Iran and the United States, following discussions between Iran's top diplomat and Pakistani officials on Friday regarding the ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.
Ceasefire Extension and Diplomatic Push
Islamabad is seeking to get American and Iranian officials back to the negotiating table, though anticipated talks earlier this week did not occur. At Pakistan's request, US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran earlier this week, allowing more time for diplomatic outreach.
Continued Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas is shipped during peacetime. Iran has maintained its stranglehold on traffic through the strait, attacking three ships earlier this week. The US has kept its blockade of Iranian ports and ordered the military to “shoot and kill” small boats that could be placing mines.
Washington now has three aircraft carriers in the region: the USS George H.W. Bush arrived in the Indian Ocean this week, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea and the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Red Sea. This marks the first time since 2003 that three American carriers have operated simultaneously in the region, comprising 200 aircraft and 15,000 sailors and Marines, according to US Central Command.
Economic Impact
The war has caused oil prices to skyrocket, with Brent crude trading at over $107 per barrel on Friday, nearly 50% higher than on February 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran to start the conflict.
Diplomatic Calls
During their call on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, and Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed “regional developments and issues related to the ceasefire,” according to a statement from Araghchi, which provided no further details.
Later, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said that “both sides exchanged views on regional developments, the ceasefire, and ongoing diplomatic efforts being pursued by Islamabad in the context of U.S.-Iran engagement.” It added that Dar “underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and engagement to address outstanding issues, in order to advance regional peace and stability at the earliest.”
Casualties
Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran, and more than 2,290 have been killed in Lebanon, according to authorities. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members throughout the region have been killed.
