Pakistan mediates US-Iran talks as drones downed over Strait of Hormuz

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi traveled to Tehran on Sunday in a renewed effort to broker talks between Iran and the US, according to Iranian state-run IRNA. Naqvi carried a message from Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The diplomatic push comes as the US military reported shooting down two Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz, citing threats to international maritime traffic. These incidents underscore the ongoing tensions in the region, even after a preliminary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on April 8. That ceasefire has not translated into a permanent end to hostilities.

Despite the April ceasefire, fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah continues. Last week, a US-brokered ceasefire extension was announced, but it has failed to stop the violence. The broader conflict has strained the global economy and raised concerns about a hunger crisis in vulnerable nations. Washington is pressing Iran to negotiate a comprehensive deal to end the war in the Middle East. Pakistan's mediating role highlights its strategic position as a diplomatic bridge between the two countries, though previous attempts have yielded limited results.