UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has named Pakistan as one of two important mediators in the US-Iran conflict, and said he will visit (Express Tribune).
What he said
“You have two important ones, Pakistan — and I’ll be visiting Pakistan, by the way, soon — Pakistan and Türkiye.”
“It is absolutely essential that that dialogue is established.”
He warned against “further catastrophic escalation in the region” and noted that beyond US-Iran tensions, several Gulf states are facing attacks with severe economic consequences.
He was speaking at his final press conference before the 81st General Assembly high-level week.
Why this is worth more than the usual diplomatic compliment
Because it is the second external confirmation this week. On Tuesday China’s foreign minister Wang Yi urged Iran’s Abbas Araqchi to return to the Islamabad memorandum for substantive consultations.
Pakistan has been describing itself as a mediator throughout this crisis. When the UN secretary general and the Chinese foreign minister independently point at the same channel within three days, the role is being confirmed from outside rather than asserted from within.
And the limits, which should be said in the same breath
The Islamabad framework exists, and the war has continued through it. Since Pakistan hosted those talks: a US strike on five Iranian tankers, Iranian missiles at a base in Jordan, attacks on ten vessels near Hormuz, Houthi strikes on Saudi cities, a drone destroyed near Makkah, and Brent above $107.
Being the venue everyone names is not the same as being the venue that works. It is, however, the precondition.
The calendar
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses the General Assembly on 25 September and will lead the delegation. President Trump is reported to be meeting Gulf leaders in New York on 24 September to discuss postwar strategy on Iran.
What is not established
No date has been announced for Guterres’s visit beyond “soon”, and no agenda has been published. Neither Washington nor Tehran has commented on the Islamabad channel this week.
[Image: Anadolu Agency via The Express Tribune]
