Iranian Lawmaker Says Pakistan Lacks Credibility for Mediation as Islamabad Lifts Security Lockdown

27/04/2026

TEHRAN / ISLAMABAD, April 26: An Iranian lawmaker has cast doubt on Pakistan’s role as a mediator in U.S.-Iran talks, as authorities in Islamabad lifted a week-long lockdown around the capital’s high-security zone following stalled negotiations.

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission, said Pakistan lacks the credibility to mediate, alleging that Islamabad aligns its positions with the interests of Donald Trump. In a post on X, Rezaei also claimed Pakistan was unwilling to acknowledge that Washington had retreated from earlier proposals.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that all restrictions around Islamabad’s Red Zone had been lifted. The area had been under tight security for over a week as Pakistan sought to host a second round of rare face-to-face talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations aimed at reaching a ceasefire.

Dar’s announcement signals that no immediate follow-up talks are expected, although Islamabad says it will continue to facilitate indirect communication between Washington and Tehran. He also thanked residents of Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi for their patience during the security measures.