Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 [1], for high-level peace talks with Pakistani officials.

The visit signals a critical diplomatic push to finalize a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. By using Pakistan as a mediator, both nations seek to reduce regional tensions and establish a permanent framework for stability in the Middle East.

Pezeshkian's one-day visit [2] focused on regional developments and the advancement of negotiations to end the long-standing conflict with the U.S. [3]. The Iranian leader met with Pakistan's top leadership to review peace initiatives and discuss how to secure a lasting agreement [4].

During the proceedings, the scope of the negotiations remained a point of focus. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the specific parameters of the discussions regarding military capabilities.

"Iran's ballistic missile programme was not discussed and was never part of the negotiations," Sharif said [5].

The talks in Islamabad are part of a broader effort to stabilize the region through diplomatic channels. Officials from both Iran and Pakistan emphasized the need for cooperation to prevent further escalation in neighboring territories [3].

While the U.S. was not present in Islamabad, the discussions were aimed at creating the necessary conditions to finalize a deal with Washington [3]. The Pakistani government continues to position itself as a neutral ground for these high-stakes deliberations.

“Iran's ballistic missile programme was not discussed and was never part of the negotiations.”

The use of Islamabad as a diplomatic hub suggests that Pakistan is playing a pivotal role as a third-party intermediary to bridge the gap between Tehran and Washington. By explicitly stating that ballistic missiles were not on the table, Pakistani leadership is attempting to define a narrow, manageable scope for negotiations to avoid the sticking points that have derailed previous U.S.-Iran agreements.