Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian outlined conditions for negotiations with the U.S. during a one-hour phone call on 28/3 with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the Prime Minister's Office of Pakistan.

Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in mediating to end the conflict between Iran and the U.S. The Iranian president emphasized that mutual trust among parties is a core factor to facilitate negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in the Middle East.

President Pezeshkian is the highest-ranking Iranian leader to date to mention the possibility of negotiations to end the conflict. Previously, Iranian officials stated they would not negotiate and that hostilities would only cease when they desired.

The two leaders also discussed the hostile regional situation and solutions to end the conflict. Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's strong condemnation of Israel's ongoing attacks on Iran, expressing solidarity and support for the Iranian people during this difficult time.

Pakistan's Prime Minister informed President Pezeshkian about the diplomatic outreach efforts being undertaken by himself, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and army chief Asim Munir to connect with the U.S. and Islamic and Gulf nations, thereby creating a conducive environment for peace negotiations.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian speaking in Tehran on 21/2. Photo: *Iran's Presidential Office*.

Pakistan is set to host a four-party conference involving the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt in the capital Islamabad on 29-30/3 to discuss negotiation efforts to end the Iran conflict.

Pakistan is emerging as a key mediator between Iran and the U.S. as the conflict extends into its second month. Islamabad has long-standing ties with Tehran and strong connections in the Gulf region, while Prime Minister Sharif and General Munir have also built good personal relationships with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan revealed on the evening of 27/3 that the conference was initially planned for Turkey, but "because our Pakistani colleagues had to remain in their country, we moved the venue to Pakistan".

He stated that the meeting would seek to establish a mechanism to de-escalate tensions in the Iran conflict. "We will discuss the direction of negotiations in this war, how the four nations assess the situation, and what can be done," he added.

The conflict between the U.S. - Israel and Iran has entered its second month, causing over 3,000 deaths and disrupting the global economy. Diplomatic efforts are being accelerated to end hostilities after President Trump announced a postponement of plans to airstrike Iran's power plants.

Hong Hanh (According to Reuters, AFP)