Pakistan’s mediation efforts in the Iran-US crisis appear to be entering their most consequential phase yet.

Yet the atmosphere surrounding the talks remains cautious. Iranian officials continue publicly to insist that Tehran will not compromise on what they describe as national rights and sovereign interests.

Pakistan deserves credit for helping preserve diplomatic space at a time when the region seemed dangerously close to another escalation cycle.

The current opening remains fragile. But after weeks dominated by threats, disrupted shipping routes and fears of renewed war, even tentative movement towards a workable understanding offers the region some much-needed reprieve.

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