'Offset spoilers': FO says Naqvi in Iran to discuss bilateral ties, regional security

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is visiting Iran to discuss regional security, stability and other developments, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to "offset spoilers" of US-Iran talks.

Naqvi held separate meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other key officials during his visit, with sources saying he conveyed a special message from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir to the Iranian president.

"He [Naqvi] is discussing bilateral relations, security, regional security and stability, and constructive engagement amongst the parties in the region and regional developments," Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during a weekly media briefing in Islamabad.

Pakistan is making all-out efforts to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table and the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU) and pave the way for peace and stability in the region, he added.

The FO spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan will continue to "offset spoilers using direct and indirect channels" and ensure the continuation of constructive dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.

Pakistan and Qatar have been the main mediators in the Middle East conflict in which thousands have been killed — mainly in Iran and Lebanon — since US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.

Naqvi's visit to Iran comes amid separate US and Houthi strikes on shipping, clouding prospects for an end to the Middle East war.

Tehran has reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless Washington accepts its conditions.

The attacks, in the Gulf of Oman leading to the strait and at the entrance to the Red Sea — both vital chokepoints for global oil supplies — come as the Middle East war shows no signs of ending.

However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday the US and Iran were close to "some sort" of deal, and fellow mediator Qatar said talks on managing Hormuz were at an advanced stage.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, Asif said "things are shaping up again in favour of a peace arrangement or a deal."

"The signals in the last two to three days are that we are close to some sort of an arrangement."

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned an attack by Houthis on a commercial ship, which claimed the lives of at least three Pakistani nationals.

In a post on X, DPM Dar said that another Pakistani sustained injuries in the attack in the Red Sea.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the Houthi attack on a non-combatant commercial vessel. Such attacks endanger innocent lives, constitute a violation of international law, and pose a serious threat to freedom of navigation, maritime security, and the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea," he added.

The deputy prime minister said that the government was in contact with the relevant Saudi authorities, as well as the internationally recognised government of Yemen, to ascertain further details of the incident and the circumstances surrounding it.

DPM Dar added that he had directed the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh to coordinate with the concerned authorities and pursue all necessary measures for the retrieval and repatriation of the deceased Pakistanis' mortal remains and for the provision of all possible assistance to the injured Pakistani national.