The Downsides of Pakistan as a Mediator Between the U.S. and Iran

Behind Pakistan’s significant achievement—serving as a mediator in the 2026 U.S.-Iran conflict, which subsequently led to an arms agreement that took effect on April 8, 2026, and remains in force today—there is, in fact, a downside to this country with its capital in Islamabad. The downside is that Pakistan does not, in fact, have diplomatic relations with Israel, a longstanding U.S. ally that is also at war with Iran.

Picture`s Source: https://mofa.gov.pk/pakistans-flag

Consequently, Israel feels unbound by the terms of the US-Iran peace agreement. This is evidenced by Israel’s open attacks on Hezbollah, a close Iranian proxy based in Lebanon. Furthermore, Pakistan remains embroiled in a geopolitical conflict with India over the Kashmir border; in 2025, the two nations were involved in an open war for three days before finally agreeing to a ceasefire.

Thus, Pakistan’s position is inherently very risky in terms of potential conflict with its neighbors. Strangely, Pakistan continues to be trusted by both the US and Iran to act as a mediator facilitating peace between the two.