Four Countries Including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Push Mediation Talks to End War

[Financial News] Four key Islamic countries — Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Pakistan, Arab Republic of Egypt, and Republic of Türkiye — are once again moving to mediate an end to the war between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Diplomatic efforts are being reignited to restart stalled ceasefire talks and resolve the crisis over the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP) and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 14th (local time), the foreign ministers of the four countries plan to hold a separate meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), which will take place in Antalya, Republic of Türkiye, from the 17th to the 19th. They are expected to discuss the situation in the Middle East and options for ending the war. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has officially confirmed that the meeting will be held on the 17th.
This gathering is largely seen as an attempt to rebuild the mediation framework after ceasefire talks between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran collapsed. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the discussions are expected to focus on a formula that would both reopen the waterway and secure a permanent ceasefire agreement.
These countries already held their first meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, on the 29th of last month to discuss the Strait of Hormuz issue, and they are now moving into a third round of consultations. Their role is gradually expanding beyond simple mediation into what is increasingly being characterized as a "joint response by the Islamic world."
WSJ reported, "This meeting will put on the table ways to persuade the Islamic Republic of Iran to lift its blockade of the strait and to reach a ceasefire agreement with the United States." Observers interpret this as a "big deal" approach that bundles the normalization of maritime routes and an end to military clashes into a single package.
These moves are seen as an attempt to fill the diplomatic vacuum that emerged after ceasefire talks between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran in Islamabad on the 11th broke down. They also appear to reflect concerns that a prolonged stalemate could spread tensions across the entire Middle East.
In fact, the likelihood of a second round of negotiations is steadily growing. Citing sources, WSJ reported that "a second meeting between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran could take place within days." U.S. President Donald Trump also hinted at the possibility of talks resuming, telling the New York Post in an interview, "Something could happen within the next two days."

km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter