Pakistan mediators say Iran-US deal still possible as Tehran mulls revised proposal
Pakistani mediators tell CNN an Iran-US deal remains possible as Islamabad awaits Tehran’s revised proposal, with the ball now in Tehran’s court amid rising tensions.
A team of Pakistani intermediaries told U.S. network CNN that a negotiated Iran-US deal remains achievable, asserting that the “ball is now in Tehran’s court.”
Their comments came as Islamabad pressed to receive a revised Iranian proposal that Pakistani officials say was expected by Friday, after an earlier version was rejected by President Donald Trump.
Despite intensive shuttle diplomacy from Pakistan, both Washington and Tehran stepped up hardline rhetoric this week, complicating the diplomatic window for a settlement.
Mediators report cautious optimism
Pakistani mediators described progress in back-channel talks while warning that time was limited.
They argued a negotiated settlement could still be reached if Tehran submits a revised offer that addresses U.S. concerns and if Washington remains willing to engage.
Sources told CNN that mediators had adjusted their approach to bridge gaps on technical points and sequencing, but they stressed that substantive concessions would be required from both sides.
Deadline for Tehran’s revised proposal
Islamabad set a deadline for Tehran to submit a modified proposal, according to the mediators who briefed the U.S. network.
That deadline, officials said, reflected a desire to move talks off the back burner and into concrete negotiations rather than open-ended consultations.
Pakistani diplomats framed the timeline as a practical measure to preserve momentum and avoid a collapse into mutual recrimination between Washington and Tehran.
Washington’s earlier rejection and remaining gaps
The mediators confirmed an earlier Iranian draft had been rejected by U.S. leadership, a move that underscored persistent mistrust.
Officials cited the Trump administration’s dismissal of the previous text as a signal that any future proposal must contain clearer guarantees and verifiable steps.
Analysts say remaining gaps include dispute over sequencing of concessions, verification mechanisms, and sanctions relief — issues that have long stymied direct diplomacy.
Islamabad’s intensified shuttle diplomacy
Pakistan has stepped up its role as an intermediary, dispatching envoys and leveraging long-standing ties with Tehran to keep channels open.
Islamabad’s involvement reflects a strategic interest in regional stability and a desire to avoid spillover that could affect South Asia and Gulf security.
Pakistani officials framed their diplomacy as pragmatic and low-profile, focused on technical fixes rather than public posturing.
Escalation in rhetoric raises stakes
This week saw an intensification of threats and sharp statements from both the U.S. and Iran, complicating the mediators’ task.
Observers warned that heightened public rhetoric narrows political space for compromise and may make it harder for leaders to accept negotiated trade-offs at home.
Diplomats noted that while private talks can be productive, public escalation can harden domestic constituencies and reduce flexibility on both sides.
Regional consequences and Gulf security concerns
A breakthrough or breakdown in talks between Tehran and Washington would have immediate implications for Gulf security and economic confidence.
Gulf states, including the UAE, have been closely monitoring the process given the potential for disruptions to shipping lanes, energy markets, and diplomatic alignments.
Regional capitals are likely to intensify contingency planning as mediators press for a clarified Iranian offer and as Washington evaluates its response.
While mediators conveyed guarded optimism that an Iran-US deal is still within reach, they emphasized that the next steps depend on Tehran’s willingness to return with a revised text and on Washington’s openness to substantive, verifiable concessions.
For now, Islamabad continues to position itself as a discreet facilitator, even as public rhetoric in Washington and Tehran raises the risk that diplomacy could stall.
The coming days will test whether back-channel efforts can survive increased pressure from hardline voices and translate into a concrete, enforceable agreement.