ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Diplomatic efforts to end the U.S. war with Iran that once showed tentative promise are now facing mounting distrust, conflicting goals and a lack of credible intermediaries, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.
Pakistan has emerged as an unlikely would-be peace broker, stepping into a vacuum left by more traditional mediators. But its efforts have yet to gain traction and the Trump administration’s diplomatic strategy remains unclear.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump reissued an ultimatum for Iran to unilaterally agree to U.S. terms and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping by Monday. “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” Trump said in a social media post.
Three Persian Gulf officials told MS NOW that attempts by Pakistan to broker a ceasefire have largely amounted to indirect exchanges rather than substantive negotiations, with no senior envoys shuttling between capitals or any formal framework for talks taking shape.
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Iran has publicly welcomed Pakistan’s role, with Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Araghchi saying on Saturday that Tehran is “deeply grateful” for its efforts and has “never refused” engagement. But privately, doubts remain over whether Iran is willing — or able — to participate meaningfully, citing security concerns and the absence of guarantees that the U.S. and Israel will not attack it again.
There is also skepticism among some Persian Gulf states. Officials in the region question whether Pakistan can act as a neutral broker, given its decades-old alliance with Saudi Arabia and its limited track record in high-stakes mediation.
At the same time, the two Persian Gulf countries traditionally seen as key intermediaries — Oman and Qatar — are either sidelined or reluctant.
Oman, which previously mediated two rounds of talks between Washington and Tehran, remains willing to re-engage. But its role has been complicated by a breakdown in trust with Washington.
Those earlier rounds of talks both ended with Israel and the U.S. launching surprise air strikes on Iran. Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, publicly criticised the latest strikes, saying he was “dismayed” that “active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined.” That criticism is believed to have alienated senior Trump administration officials.
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David Rohde
David Rohde is the senior national security reporter for MS NOW. Previously he was the senior executive editor for national security and law for NBC News.
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